Mid Day Shootout Over Drugs Results in Two Deaths
The area known as Paso de La Vaca (Avenida 9 and Calle 6), part of the area that is known as "la Zona Roja" - the red zone - was the scene of a shout out between a drug dealer and his client over what police believe is a dispute over drugs.

The drug dealer was identified as Costa Rican, José Alexánder Rodríguez Muñoz, while his client, an American, was only identified at press time as the "gringo".

According to police, the Tito as he was known in the area, was having lunch when the "gringo" came up to him, without a word or discussion, shot him in the back. Friends and the mother in law of José gave chase as the "gringo" ran from the scene through the Paso de la Vaca.

A shootout ensued as the area became tense. A passerby, identified as Carlos Manuel Bejarano, was shot in the thorax, while the "gringo" made his way into the market where security guards there tried to unsuccessfully stop the man, who made his exit through a back door and the chase was back on the street.

The "gringo" re-entered the market and shot at a guard, hitting him in the arm and forearm. The guard shot back, the bullet impacting the abdomen and the "gringo" fell to the ground a few minutes later. Red Cross workers on the scene could not revive the man.

Both of the men injured in the shootout were recuperating at the Calderón Guardia hospital.

Tito was known to the police for his long list of crimes and was a known drug dealer of the area.