Masked gunmen assassinate police subcommander in home attack in Mexico

José Ramón Barajas Félix, subcommander of the Immediate Reaction Group of the Mexicali Municipal Police, was shot dead inside his home on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.

Two hooded gunmen entered the residence in the ejido Oviedo Mota Reacomodo in the Valle de Mexicali area and fired more than 20 rounds from high-powered weapons. The attack occurred around 1:21 p.m. local time. Barajas was found dead inside the property before emergency services arrived.

The assailants fled in a gray Nissan Frontier pickup truck of recent model, speeding toward main roads connecting the Valle de Mexicali, according to witnesses.

A large-scale security operation was immediately launched across the region. Units from the Municipal Police, the State Citizen Security Force, the Baja California State Attorney General’s Office, the National Guard, and the Mexican Army are participating in patrols, checkpoints, and inspections at exit points from the municipality and surrounding areas.

Authorities have not reported any arrests, and the motive for the killing has not been officially confirmed.