US consular officer shot in western Mexico

 A U.S. consular official was shot on Friday in Guadalajara, the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, the country's Prosecutor-General's Office (PGR) said Saturday.

The PGR said in a statement that its personnel was in constant contact with the U.S. embassy and that police investigators had taken "immediate actions" to find those responsible for the attack, which happened at 6:20 p.m. local time.

The report also updated the health condition of the official, who was in a "stable condition", at a private hospital in the Providencia area of the city.

"The state and federal authorities are collaborating to carry out the relevant investigations and provide the needed protection to the official," said the PGR.

According to local media reports, a gunman dressed in hospital scrubs accosted the diplomat as he left a gymnasium in his car in Guadalajara's neighborhood of Vallarta Norte.

The aggressor then shot the official, whose identity has not been revealed, in the left side of the chest and fled, local newspaper Mural reported.

The U.S. embassy in Mexico announced on Twitter that the FBI will provide a reward of 20,000 U.S. dollars for any information leading to the capture of the gunman.

A video provided by the embassy showed the man draw the gun from his right trouser pocket and fire at the official who was driving a black car.

"Upon being informed of the facts, the PGR entered in contact with the victim and began immediate actions to catch those responsible for this tragic event," read the statement.

source: Xinhua