Code Red

Are we still unclear as to why Mexicans are coming here?

Hit men killed a top police official Saturday, capping a bloody week in this community on the Texas border and across the country.

Juan Antonio Roman Garcia, second in command of the beleaguered police department here, was shot more than 50 times early Saturday as he parked outside his home. One police official said Mr. Roman was able to return fire and probably hit an SUV that was later found with several bullet holes not far from the crime scene.

Mr. Roman, 54, was the third senior officer killed in Juarez this week and the sixth nationwide, including Edgar Millan, one of the country's top federal policemen. More than 25 police officers have been gunned down since May 1, nine of them federal agents.

Mr. Roman's name was first on a hit list left in January by drug traffickers, who warned that the targets would face death unless they resigned their post. Many heeded the message. Others kept working and were hunted down over the past weeks.

"Everyone who works at the Juarez police department is in mourning," Juarez police spokesman Jaime Torres said in a written statement. "But we reiterate our will and firm commitment to continue working toward maintaining order and social tranquility in our city."

"Juarez Is in Code Red."

That's 25 officers killed by gunmen in 10 days. For some perspective, in all of the United States in 2007, 187 officers were killed in the line of duty - and that includes accidents.