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Rising MMA Fighter Among The 2 Men Killed At U.S. Border
Photo by ZacharyTirrell via Flickr
Sergio Salcido Luna, an aspiring, mixed-martial arts fighter in Bakersfield, is believed to be one of the two men shot to death inside a vehicle while waiting to enter the United States at a Tijuana-area border crossing early Monday morning. Luna, 25, and Kevin Joel Romero, 28, were in a line of cars poised to cross into San Diego at the San Ysidro Port of Entry at 2:40 a.m. when they were attacked with a 9-millimeter weapon, reports the Los Angeles Times.
The victims were reportedly traveling in a truck with California license plates, and whle one Mexican media outlet reported they were U.S. citizens, the Baja California Attorney General has not confirmed citizenship nor has the U.S. Consul General's office in Tijuana, reports the LA Times.
The website MMA Valor quoted friends as saying Luna moved to San Diego to pursue the sport and participated in several matches such as "Gladiator Challenge" and "Long Beach Fight Night." Friend Evan Anthony told KSWB-TV in San Diego that he worked out with Luna. "He was a cage fighter who went by the name Sergio 'Suave' Salcido. He's a really tough fighter, old-school-type fighter; old school, brawler, hard nose, real tough guy," Anthony said.
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