Mexico Violence Brings Wounded Man To Thomason Hospital - News Story - KFOX El Paso

As regular readers of Blog of the Gods know Mexican drug fueds often extend from the street to the hospital where the woulded are given the coup-de-grace by their assassins. So the American hospital staff has done very well to take extra precautions.

Thomason Hospital was on lockdown Friday night after a patient arrived with ties to the violence in Mexico.

Administrators said they were on heightened alert and have asked the El Paso County Sheriff's Office to assist in security.

Outside the hospital, it's evident with sheriff's deputies on the campus, security is tighter.

Inside we're told all visitors must pass though screening, including metal detectors.

Hospital officials said the unidentified man was brought to Thomason with multiple gunshot wounds.

"Apparently the patient had been flown to Juarez from another Mexican community and then was taken to the Bridge of the Americas," said Margaret Althoff-Olivas, hospital director of communications.

Two women claiming to be the wife and sister of the victim said the victim is a sub-director at the Casas Grandes Police Department, just outside of Juarez.

But security at the hospital would not tell them much more than they told KFOX.

El Paso County sheriff's spokesman, Jesse Tovar, said, "I can't confirm or release exactly who he was, what was his role, what he did, what was he part of all. I can say is we're taking necessary measures for the security of the hospital staff patients and visitors."

For fear of death or further violence, the family declined to speak on camera, but they said the victim called Thursday at 8 p.m. telling them he had been shot and would be taken to El Paso in the morning for treatment where security was heightened.

"Unfortunately for our patients and visitors and staff we have had to put the hospital on lockdown." said Althoff-Olivas

Visitors to Thomason Hospital said they were either turned away or asked to go through a metal detector. Either way they said they were upset and this situation should be handled across the border.

"They need to be treated in Mexico actually. Honestly we pay tax dollars for this hospital, and they need to be treated over there, " said El Paso resident Kathy Green.

The hospital will remain on lockdown until further notice.

The Sheriff's Office won't say how many or where they will staff deputies.

"We have sufficient security in place to respond to any necessity the hospital may need, " said Tovar.

At this time the hospital will not release the man's name, age or information about his wounds or care.

Mexico Violence Brings Wounded Man To Thomason Hospital - News Story - KFOX El Paso