Soldiers attacked while arresting armed men

REYNOSA — Gunmen opened fire on a military convoy as soldiers arrested two armed men in this city Saturday evening, the Mexican Defense Ministry reported.

Two men leaving Suite Presidencial Roma hotel led authorities on a brief chase as military personnel patrolled an area near the intersection of Reforma and Río Mante streets, according to a statement from the Defense Ministry. The duo tried to flee in a white truck with dark tinted windows after soldiers approached the men outside the hotel.

A convoy eventually caught up with the pair, and soldiers found four firearms and several ammunition clips inside the truck. Soldiers also found a set of keys to a second vehicle that also carried several weapons.

During the men’s arrest, a third vehicle drove up to the convoy and began to fire at military personnel, apparently attempting to free the duo.

Soldiers arrested Jesús Hernán Villalobos Pérez, 29, and Martín Moreno García, 33, both of Tampico.

Authorities confiscated six firearms, more than 700 rounds of ammunition, 32 ammunition clips and one grenade. They also seized the trucks — a white 2008 GMC bearing Texas license plate number Y36PZT and a red 1999 Ford bearing Tamaulipas license plate number XDB9518

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Ana Ley covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4428.