MONTERREY, NUEVO LEON (BNO NEWS) — Two students with excellent academic records were killed during a shootout on Friday between the Mexican Army and hitmen, the Monterrey Institute of Technology said on Saturday.

On Friday, the Mexican Army and the state government said that two gunmen were killed during a gunfight, after trying to evade the Army by jumping over a fence at one of Monterrey Tech’s entrances.

But in an statement, Monterrey Tech said on Saturday that the both persons killed were students with excellent academic records, Jorge Antonio Mercado Alonso, 23, studying a Masters degree and Javier Arredondo Verdugo, 24, studying a PhD.

The Army was chashing three vehicles, including one armored, from where armed men threw grenades. The vehicle was stopped at one of Monterrey Tech’s entrances and a shootout ensued.

Jorge Antonio’s mother, Rosa Elvia Mercado Alonso, asked the federal authorities to clarify that his son and his friend were not hitmen, and that were excellent students.

There was no official reaction from the Mexican Army or the state government the Monterrey Tech statement.