US WARNS OF CARTEL SHOOTINGS IN MEXICO BORDER CITY

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico -- The U.S. Consulate in the northern Mexican
border city of Ciudad Juarez warned U.S. citizens that Mexican drug
cartels were possibly planning random shooting attacks on cars
Wednesday -- the same day gunmen ambushed a top state police official.

The Consulate said in a Warden's Message posted on its Web page that
cartels "may target random vehicles in drive-by shootings or may call
in bomb threats in an effort to distract law enforcement officials."

The Consulate said that the threat appeared only to apply Wednesday.
Without elaborating, it said its warning was based on information it
had received and recommended U.S. citizens exercise caution when
driving through the city.

It was unclear whether the warning was in any way related to
Wednesday's attack on a vehicle carrying Chihuahua state police
intelligence unit Commander Luis Prieto.

Gunmen opened fire on the vehicle as Prieto left a restaurant, said
Samuel Delgado, spokesman for the state Public Safety Department.
Prieto and two other officers were wounded while a fourth official
died, he said.

A police vehicle escorting the wounded officers to a hospital was
involved in a crash that injured two other officers, and gunfire was
reported near the hospital where the victims were taken for treatment.

Following the attack, police found a hand-lettered message on the door
of a school that read "This is a warning for Luis Prieto, for hanging
around with (reputed drug lord Joaquin) el Chapo Guzman."