Seven Arrested in Slaying Near Border

Seven Tijuana men have been arrested in connection with the slaying of an undocumented worker and the assault and robbery of two other men attempting to enter the United States, police said.

Five unidentified suspects were taken into custody Tuesday by the Baja California Judicial Police in connection with the Sunday night slaying near the border, a San Diego police spokesman said.

In addition, Mexican police arrested two other unidentified men Sunday night in connection with the crimes, but no further details were given by Baja officials, spokesman Bill Robinson said. All seven suspects were being held in Tijuana.

Rogelio Cota, 32, of Mexico was stabbed to death at the Tijuana River near the San Ysidro port of entry. Genaro Sandoval, 29, also of Mexico, and another unidentified illegal alien traveling with Cota told Border Patrol agents that they were attacked and robbed while attempting to cross into the United States, Robinson said.

Mexican officials told San Diego police that the five suspects arrested Tuesday were found at a Tijuana residence after being identified by the robbery victims, but officials did not say what led to the arrest.

“We think as many as 10 people were involved in the killing and robberies altogether. But we don’t known which one killed the victim,” Robinson said.