Nogales dentist murdered by US citizen over dental dispute

A 30-year-old American citizen, identified as Ernest “N” or Ernesto “N” from Prescott, Arizona, was killed during a confrontation with police in Agua Prieta, Sonora. The suspect was wanted for the October 15 murder of 42-year-old dentist Amed de Jesús Preciado Hernández in Nogales, Mexico.

Investigations by the Sonora State Attorney General's Office revealed the motive was a dispute regarding a previous dental procedure that the suspect claimed left him with a loose tooth. After being unable to receive immediate attention at the clinic, the suspect waited for the dentist and shot him multiple times in a parking lot. Surveillance footage captured the victim pleading for his life before succumbing to the attack.

During a tactical operation to execute an arrest warrant on October 17, the suspect opened fire on law enforcement, leading to a shootout that resulted in his death. Two officers sustained minor injuries during the exchange but have since been discharged from medical care. Authorities noted that the suspect had a prior criminal record in the United States, including drug-related offenses.