Shootout in western Mexico

Officials say the officers were killed when they came upon a group fleeing the fatal shooting of two men.

The killings happened before dawn Tuesday in Culiacan, home to the Sinaloa drug cartel.

An official with the federal police who wasn't authorized to give his name says four other federal police were wounded and have been hospitalized.

Drug cartels are increasingly targeting police and other security officials across Mexico. The Mexican government says cartels are lashing out at a nationwide crackdown on the drug trade.