Killing latest violent act in Baja

Americans feared to be targeted
By Anna Cearley
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
August 26, 2006

TIJUANA – A drive-by shooting that left an American woman dead this week is the latest of what some frequent Mexico travelers are saying is a string of violent acts against U.S. citizens along Baja California's main peninsular highway.

Raquel Duarte Fife, 64, was killed Aug. 22 near Cataviña, about eight hours from the border, as her husband drove north on the highway. A gunman shot at them about 40 times from a beige Buick, according to a report prepared by Mexico's Federal Preventive Police.

Fife was shot in the head during the 7:30 a.m. assault, according to the police report. Her husband was not injured.

Acquaintances of the couple said Raquel and Larry Fife are well-known operators of a motel and restaurant in Bahía de los Angeles on the eastern side of the Baja California peninsula.

The killing, and other unusual incidents in recent weeks along the highway, have been hot topics on a travelers' Web site called Bajanomad.com. Some postings on the site speculate that U.S. citizens are becoming targets for roadside criminals.