A Border Patrol agent who was shot while on duty Tuesday has been identified as a 21-year veteran of the federal agency based out of the Tucson Sector in Arizona.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed Wednesday the unnamed agent was shot around 4:30 a.m. Pacific Time while responding to a sensor report of foot activity near Ruby Road and Chimney Canyon, just south of Arivaca, Ariz. It is a rural and mountainous area a few miles north of the U.S.-Mexico boundary.
“The agent called for emergency assistance from his patrol vehicle’s service radio. Initial indications are that the agent was attacked by an unknown number of assailants, one of whom fired several shots at the agent in close proximity. The agent was struck several times and it is believed that he returned fire,” CBP said in a statement.
The agent is an “experienced paramedic” and was able to begin administering treatment on scene and call for help. The individual was taken by helicopter to a hospital.
A Border Patrol Tactical Unit responded to the incident and tracked down a group of suspects that may be connected with the attack.
CBP has not shared additional information about the agent’s medical condition or which hospital where he or she is being treated.
The incident is being treated as an active shooting investigation by the FBI, CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General, and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
CBP was not able to provide the number of agent-involved shootings that have taken place since the beginning of fiscal 2018, which started Oct. 1, 2017.
As of March 31, CBP reported 179 assault incidents against its Border Patrol agents and 312 assaults.
However, an Intercept report in April concluded that in one February 2017 incident, CBP counted attacks against seven agents as 126 total assaults.
