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American toddler shot by Mexican soldier after car chase mix-up
Published October 30, 2015
A one-year-old American girl was shot in the back by Mexican army personnel last week after her family's vehicle got caught in the middle of a car chase in Mexico.
Mexican authorities confirmed reports about the incident Wednesday, with officials in the northern border state of Tamaulipas saying the toddler was shot by soldiers who were tracking another vehicle carrying drug suspects.
Guadalupe Salinas, the head of the state's federal prosecutors' office, said an eight-month-old girl was also grazed by a bullet and the children's mother suffered slight wounds from bullets or glass fragments. Salinas added that none of the injuries were life-threatening. The one-year-old was taken to San Antonio for treatment.
"The soldiers were following an SUV, and at that moment [the family] got in the middle," Salinas said. "[The soldiers] thought they were the bad guys. They got to the car and realized that, no, it was women and children."
Salinas said that Mexican authorities have been in contact with the family, who were in Mexico to visit relatives. The shooting occurred near the town of Camargo, across the US border from Rio Grande City, Texas. The area is controlled by the Gulf cartel and has been the scene of violent turf battles with the rival Zetas cartel.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City said it was aware of reports that a US citizen had been wounded, but declined to provide any additional details, citing privacy policies.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/american-toddler-shot-by-mexican-soldier-after-car-chase-mix-up