Aspiring California pro fighter reportedly among 2 fatally shot at border crossing

One of two men fatally shot in Tijuana early Monday as they waited to cross into San Diego at the San Ysidro Port of Entry was an aspiring mixed-martial arts fighter in Bakersfield.

Sergio Salcido Luna, 25, and Kevin Joel Romero, 28, were in the line of cars approaching the border crossing at 2:40 a.m. when they were shot with a 9-millimeter weapon, according to a news release by the Baja California attorney general’s office.

The truck the men were traveling in had California license plates, and one Mexican media outlet reported that they were U.S. citizens. But Baja California Atty. Gen. Rommel Moreno Manjarrez said at a news conference that he could not confirm the men's citizenship.

The U.S. consul general’s office in Tijuana has yet to release information on their citizenship.

Luna was a mixed-martial arts fighter who got his start at MMA in Bakersfield.

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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-- Richard Marosi in San Diego and Shelby Grad

Photo: The scene at the San Ysidro border crossing Monday. Credit: KSWB-TV

 

Comments

[KC]

That is why anybody who visits Mexico is a fool.

[A Concerned mother]

If you want to stop the violence both here and in Mexico, stop it at the source. Legalize marijuana and take away one of the sources of funding for the drug war. And stop the flow of guns entering Mexico from the US. Not rocket science.

[Nanaberthaa]

There is no good reason for anyone to enter Mexico..The day's of a vacation in a Beautiful country are GONE........

[James]

Yup I agree with KC. When tens and tens of millions of Mexico flee their own country to come here, that's a clue. Why go to Mexico when their own residents don't want to be there?

[RickC928]

Maybe a disgruntled boxing fan who didn't like MMA, since Mexico is the only country keeping the sport of boxing alive...

[Jim Townes]

Anybody who goes anywhere someone is murdered is a fool

[MLK]

Yes, two americans killed in Tijuana. A small bag of drugs found in the bag of one of the victims.. Funny how the times runs to press while avoiding this tidbit of information. Sad, but I guess two Americans killed in a mafia style hit found with drugs in the vehicle just doesn't sell as well.. Sadly the US media is nothing more the entertainment. Not real news

[Duped Tax Payer]

If these thugs and criminal aren't afraid of law enforcement we are pretty much on our own. Most of the bad guys come and go thru our border every day. This country is definitely going downhill.

[Miguel de la Salle]

No, KC. Most people who visit Mexico get back home safe and sound.

[Arpaio]

Returning at 2:30am seems very suspicious in the first place..

[steve rodriguez]

" When it comes to American immigration they can't only bring in friut pickers."
- Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew

[imnotrich]

anybody who goes anywhere there's been a murder is a fool?

hmm, Los Angeles? Must be lots of fools there.

[Morgan]

I can't understand why anyone in their right mind would go over there KNOWING how bad it is.

[Montana Gold-]

This guy lived there to save a few bucks on rent, his full right. Tijuana has actually turned around in the last few years, with more battles over Juarez, Rio Bravo ect. This must of been a planned hit, or bad info from a "halcon" keeping eyes on suspicious vehicles. Simply being a man, or having the wrong plates on your car can mean life or death in Mexico. It's only bad, cause the U.S. concocted the perfect recipe to make money of the failed drug war, and sell more guns and write more weapons contracts. The friggin ATF was letting guns walk, and you still debate over were these guns come from... 714 AK-47's purchased by one man, who the gun stores alerted the ATF about. Don't blame the water for flowing the direction of the path carved in front of it.

[Obvious]

They had Steroids for sure. Prolly typical juiced up cage fighters started some problems with someone and got smoked.