DENVER -- A man accused of gunning down a police officer will be handed over to U.S. authorities within days to face murder and attempted murder charges in Denver, Mexican officials said Thursday.

Raul Gomez-Garcia, a Mexican citizen, is accused of killing Detective Donald Young and wounding Detective John Bishop in May. He was arrested in Mexico in June after eluding a massive dragnet in the United States.

Mexican Consul-General Juan Marcos Gutierrez-Gonzalez said Gomez-Garcia would be turned over to U.S. marshals but did not say when or where, citing safety concerns.

Gomez-Garcia faces charges of second-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. He could be sentenced to 96 years in prison if convicted of both.

Gutierrez-Gonzalez said Gomez-Garcia did not appeal Mexico's decision to extradite him before the Dec. 15 deadline.

Young, 43, was a decorated officer and the father of two girls. He and Bishop, 35, were shot from behind on May 8 while they were in uniform but off duty, providing security for a private baptismal party.

Gomez-Garcia fled Denver and was arrested four weeks later in Mexico.

Extradition was held up by Mexican laws and court rulings that prohibit the government from turning over suspects to another country if they faced either the death penalty or life imprisonment.

Neither of the charges filed by District Attorney Mitch Morrissey carries such penalties.

The extradition snags drew angry reactions from some lawmakers and threats to cut of foreign aid to Mexico.