Mexican police chief shot down

MEXICO CITY, May 8 (UPI) -- The head of Mexico's federal police force was killed Thursday by a group of gunmen, police officials said.

Edgar Millan Gomez was shot several times outside his Mexico City apartment building early Thursday, El Universal reported online.

He later died at a nearby hospital, according to police.

One of the suspected gunmen was taken into police custody for questioning.

Gomez was the head of the country's anti-drug trafficking task force.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has sent Mexican police to several border towns in recent months to combat the growing violence associated with drug trafficking.