Customs and Border Protection officials have released more details about a fatal shooting, saying a Border Patrol agent defended himself in a “deadly struggle” with an illegal alien.
A Border Patrol agent shot and killed an illegal alien along the Rio Grande River in Starr County on December 11, as The Dallas Express reported. Now, CBP is releasing more details, saying the suspect was fighting with the agent, and the agent called for help.
“The agent reported he was engaged in an active struggle with the man for two minutes and ultimately discharged his CBP-issued firearm,” the release reads.
The Struggle
Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector, special operations, were performing “targeted enforcement” on December 11 near the river – nearly 6 miles west of Rio Grande City, according to the release.
The agents spotted a group of men in camouflage walking north. They approached them at 4:14 p.m., when the suspects tried to flee to Mexico.
One Border Patrol agent tried to arrest a 31-year-old male. At 4:18 p.m., the agent got on the radio and said “he was in a fight and needed help.”
The agent reportedly shot the suspect three times.
Other Border Patrol agents responded “immediately,” and called for emergency medical help at 4:25 p.m. At this point, they applied “chest seals” and tried performing CPR.
Deputies with the Starr County Sheriff’s Office responded to secure the scene, as The Dallas Express reported at the time.
Starr County EMS responders arrived at 4:37 p.m. and began caring for the man, according to the release. They brought him to Starr County Hospital in Rio Grande City. Hospital staff pronounced him dead at 5:08 p.m.
The Investigation
The county requested a forensic autopsy, and the pathologist will share official findings with CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility.
The same day, Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Chris Olivarez confirmed the Texas Rangers were investigating the shooting, as The Dallas Express reported.
The CBP-OPR is also reviewing the case, and staff have notified the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, according to the release.
Fox News initially reported the suspect was an alleged “cartel smuggler,” but CBP has not yet publicly confirmed this.
