Agent kills suspected drug smuggler
By Alexis Huicochea
arizona daily star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 02.28.2007

advertisementA suspected drug smuggler was shot to death during a confrontation with Border Patrol agents Tuesday night south of Tucson, officials said.

The shooting occurred about 8 p.m. about 20 miles west of Interstate 19 near the Aliso Springs area south of Tubac. Agents from the Tucson Sector encountered four men backpacking in the desert, said Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada.

The agents surrounded the men in an attempt to detain them. At least one agent fired, killing one of the men, he said.

The other three ran away, but two were detained nearby about an hour later, Estrada said.

The dead man had a rifle, and one of the arrestees had a handgun, he said. Border Patrol agents also seized four bundles of marijuana.

Agents have been working in the area trying to prevent violence, Estrada said.

It is not clear if the suspects exchanged gunfire with the agents, but no agents were injured, said Jesus Rodriguez, spokesman for the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector.

"The agent must have felt threatened for his life because he took that action," Rodriguez said.

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