San Diego

An undocumented alien, traveling with seven other aliens, was shot and killed early Monday morning by a lone gunman near a South San Diego high school, said Bill Robinson, San Diego Police Department spokesman.

Felisiano Alcala died of a gunshot wound to the chest, said Deputy Coroner Robert Engle.

Robinson said the group of aliens had just crossed the border about 4:30 a.m. Monday and were making their way toward Interstate 5 when a man carrying two handguns jumped out from bushes alongside a road. The assailant fired both handguns at the group, striking Alcala. He then ordered the others to disrobe, hand over their belongings and run from the scene. The gunman then fled on foot, Robinson said.

One of the aliens later contacted the Sheriff’s Department. A sheriff’s deputy found Alcala’s body in a dry river bed behind Montgomery High School, Robinson said. The deputy then notified San Diego police. Alcala apparently traveled to the river bed under his own power, Robinson added.

The seven other aliens were arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents, said Ed Pyeatt, Border Patrol spokesman.

Robinson added that Mexican authorities have been alerted to the shooting and are also searching for the assailant. San Diego homicide detectives were investigating the shooting Monday, he said.