6 In Custody In Death Of Border Patrol Agent Near Campo
POSTED: 7:14 am PDT July 27, 2009

SAN DIEGO -- Six people are in custody Monday in connection with the slaying of a U.S. Border Patrol agent near Campo, authorities said.

The alleged gunman, Ernesto Parra Valenzuela, and four members of a smuggling ring were arrested by Mexican authorities Friday, about five hours after the fatal shooting. A sixth suspect was also arrested Friday when a "ping" from the slain agent's cell phone led them to O'Conner Hospital in San Jose.

Before he was fatally shot, Agent Robert Rosas Jr. apparently wounded one of his attackers, based on blood found at the scene. The slaying was the first on-duty killing of a Border Patrol agent in 10 years.

Valenzuela allegedly killed Rosas on Shockey Truck Trail with a 9 mm pistol Thursday night. The pistol was found tucked inside Valenzuela's waistband when he was arrested, according to Mexican authorities.

Mexican authorities said Valenzuela, 36, was identified as the shooter by one of the four alleged smugglers -- Jose Eugenio Quintero Ruiz, 49, who is wanted on suspicion of two murders and rape in the United States. Information about the rape and other killings were unavailable.

A brother, Jose Quintero Ruiz, 43, and two taxi drivers, Jose Alfredo Camacho, 34, and Antonio Valladares, 57, also were arrested. The group was apparently trying to smuggle 21 people into the United States.

Rosas, a 30-year-old father of two, was tracking the group about 9:15 p.m. Thursday when he came under fire near the border.

On Friday, federal officials announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the attackers. It was unclear if anyone was in line to collect that money.

Getting Valenzuela into the United States to face justice could be difficult. Mexico, which has no death penalty, does not turn over murder suspects if prosecutors seek their execution. California prosecutors in the past have dealt with such situations by not seeking the death penalty.

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WITH VIDEO. video report claims that the trigger man is also a suspect in two other murders in the US in the past couple of months