AGUA PRIETA, Sonora — A 30-year-old Arizona man wanted in the fatal shooting of a dentist in Nogales was killed during a gun battle with Mexican authorities while officers attempted to serve an arrest warrant, officials said.
Ernesto Rascón, a 30-year-old United States citizen originally from Prescott Valley, was fatally shot during an operation by the Criminal Investigation Ministerial Agency (AMIC) and security forces.
He died during a confrontation with security agents who entered a home to execute an arrest warrant for the murder of oral surgeon Amed de Jesús Preciado Hernández, 42.
According to the Prosecutor's Office, the American opened fire on the officers, who returned fire.
Carlos Alberto Flores, general commissioner of the AMIC in the state
of Sonora, reported that agents located the suspect on Saturday, Oct. 17, at a home in the Ejidal 2 neighborhood in Agua Prieta.
During the operation, a state investigative agent suffered a graze wound to the head and a municipal police officer was wounded in the left leg. Both were treated and released, the official confirmed.
Flores explained that the officers used tactical tools and ballistic shields to enter the property.
The Sonora State Attorney General's Office (FGJES) stated that the suspect received first aid in accordance with operating protocols but died at the scene. An official AMIC vehicle was also damaged by gunfire.
How a dispute over dental treatment turned deadly
In his statements, the AMIC commissioner recounted that on Thursday, Oct. 15, the U.S. citizen went to a dental office in Nogales, Sonora, where he had already received several treatment sessions.
The man arrived in an agitated state and demanded to be seen without an appointment. The dentist was unable to see him, which allegedly angered the patient.
After leaving the office, the suspect allegedly waited for the dentist outside in the parking lot.
Flores said that once the dentist got into his pickup truck, the man allegedly attacked him with a handgun and shot him multiple times; the moment was captured on video by a security camera.
The victim was identified by the Prosecutor's Office as Amed de Jesús Preciado Hernández, 42, who died in the parking lot of a hospital in the Kennedy neighborhood in Nogales.
According to ministerial investigations, the motive for the homicide was related to a grievance over a dental procedure, as the suspect blamed the dentist for leaving a tooth loose.
Authorities met with gunfire while serving warrant
Commissioner Flores explained that after the homicide, ministerial agents and Public Ministry personnel carried out the corresponding proceedings until they gathered the elements to obtain an arrest warrant the following day.
On Oct. 15, the FGJES had publicly announced that it was investigating the homicide and had already identified a person of interest.
A day later, on Oct. 16, the Prosecutor's Office announced that the AMIC had submitted evidence gathered to the Public Ministry to support the judicial request. It also reported that coordination had been established with U.S. authorities to help locate the suspect, due to his citizenship.
The investigations led agents to a home located on Calle 19, between Avenidas 18 and 19, in the Ejidal 2 neighborhood of Agua Prieta. Authorities said he had relatives in the Agua Prieta-Douglas border region.
According to the official report, the operation involved AMIC officers with support from municipal and state preventive forces, including the State Public Security Police.
The intervention was aimed at serving the active arrest warrant against the man for the dentist's homicide. However, the execution of the judicial order led to the armed confrontation.
Suspect had previous arrests in Arizona
The AMIC general commissioner stated that Ernesto Rascón had a record with U.S. authorities for various incidents, including drug use and driving under the influence.
His record included:
- 2005: Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
- 2007: Marijuana-related incident.
- 2007: Hit-and-run after a crash.
- 2008: Driving under the influence (DUI).
- 2025: Robbery.
- 2025: Narcotics possession.
- 2025: Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona man accused of killing dentist dies in shootout
