Nightly News   |  February 16, 2011

Zeta cartel blamed for attack on U.S. agents

Officials are investigating a high-profile attack on two U.S. federal agents in Mexico, one of whom was killed. Telemundo's Jose Diaz Balart reports.

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>>> and there is an investigation tonight into an attack on two u.s. federal agents in mexico in the line of duty. one of those agents was killed in the attack. telemundo 's jose diaz -balart is in mexico city tonight with new information.

>> reporter: brian, this is the highest profile attack on u.s. lawmen since 1985 . one of the customs agents was shot five times in the abdomen and lower body and died on his way to the hospital yesterday. the second agent was badly wounded and has since been flown to the u.s. for treatment. sources close to the investigation tell nbc news that the two agents were traveling in the afternoon from the u.s. to mexico city to deliver supplies. they were in an armored suv with diplomatic plates driving through the monterey area. nbc news and telemundo have learned the agents noticed they were being followed by two suvs which then came up aggressively behind them. sources say the gunmen blocked the road, forcing the agents to stop. one of the gunmen entered the stopped car and shot the agents at close range. the suspected drug cartel hitmen left the agents for dead but the wounded agent was able to call for help . law enforcement sources say questions have been raised as to why the agents stopped. how the gunmen got the into the armored vehicle . what may have been stolen from the vehicles. and if all security procedures were followed. sources believe the zeta cartel is responsible for the attack. late today secretary of homeland security janet napolitano and attorney general eric holder announced the creation of a joint task force to coordinate with mexican authorities so they can bring those responsible to justice. brian.

>> jose diaz -balart from telemundo . thank you for that report tonight.