Ex-Army sergeant among 4 killed in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Gunmen killed a retired Army sergeant and three members of his family, Puerto Rico police said today. A 13-year-old son survived despite being stabbed and thrown off a bridge.

At least three suspects were involved in the fatal shooting of 67-year-old Miguel Ortiz Diaz, his wife, and his mother-in-law at the family home in the U.S. territory's upscale city of Guaynabo just southwest of the capital of San Juan, police officer Maritza Ramos said.

The suspects took two teenage sons of the couple to the neighboring city of Bayamon, where a 15-year-old son was fatally shot. A 13-year-old son survived after being stabbed and thrown over a bridge when the gun one of the attackers was using ran out of bullets, Police Superintendent Jose Caldero said.

One person has been detained in the attacks, and two more are being sought. No charges have been filed.

He said police do not have a motive yet but are investigating whether Ortiz was killed by people who were renting a house he owned and were facing eviction because they had fallen behind on the rent.

Ortiz had been a professor for nearly 20 years at Puerto Rico's American Military Academy, where officials held an impromptu vigil this morning.