Gunman wounds US consular official in western Mexico

Mexico : Mexican police on Saturday hunted for a gunman disguised as a nurse who shot and wounded a US consular official in his car in the western city of Guadalajara.

The consulate in Guadalajara posted a video on Facebook showing the shooter, dressed in blue, waiting outside a shopping center's garage at 6:20 pm on Friday (00:20 GMT Saturday), raising his gun and firing at the car before fleeing.

The shooting left a bullet impact on the car window while the official is seen opening his door.

Moments before the shooting, the official, who was wearing shorts and a sleeveless shirt, paid his parking ticket at an automated machine, according to another video. After the official walks away, the gunman is seen following him.

"According to the four videos, it was a direct attack," Jalisco state attorney general Eduard Almaguer Ramirez said.

The gunman was wearing a wig and a blue nurse uniform, he said.

The US official, who is in stable condition, interviews visa applicants at the consulate, Almaguer said.

The American is a vice consul, a US government official told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that no motive has been established so far.

Guadalajara has been hit by violence perpetrated by the powerful Jalisco New Generation drug cartel in recent years.