Thread: Border Patrol agent fires his handgun during attack

Border Patrol agent fires his handgun during attack

Posted: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 12:00 pm | Updated: 12:00 pm, Wed Mar 12, 2014.
Ildefonso Ortiz | The Monitor

FALFURRIAS— U.S. Border Patrol and other federal agencies are looking into an apparent assault on an agent where he was forced to fire his weapon.

The scuffle that resulted in the firing of the weapon was reported shortly after 9:30 a.m. near the community of Encino which is relatively near the border patrol checkpoint, said border patrol spokesman Daniel Tirado.

No one sustained any gunshot injuries, however the agent and the person involved in the scuffle sustained minor injuries from the struggle, Tirado said.

As is standard procedure every time an agent fires his weapon, in addition to an internal investigation, an outside agency will be looking into the shooting, the spokesman said.

http://www.themonitor.com/news/local...a4bcf6878.html

Border Patrol: Immigrant attacks agent near Encino

Monitor file photo

Posted: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 5:41 pm
Dave Hendricks | The Monitor

NEAR ENCINO — A man attacked a Border Patrol agent Wednesday morning, wrestled away the agent’s pistol, pointed the weapon at him and squeezed the trigger. But the gun apparently jammed.

Border Patrol wouldn’t confirm details about the altercation, but a Border Patrol agent with firsthand knowledge about the incident and attorney Rey Merino, who works for National Border Council Local 3307, which represents agents assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Sector, both provided detailed accounts. Merino talked with the agent Wednesday at a local hospital.

Two Border Patrol agents stumbled upon immigrants traveling near Encino at roughly 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

A male immigrant attacked an agent during the incident, according to information provided by the Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley Sector. They wrestled over the agent’s pistol, which discharged twice during the fight.

“And he actually was able to take one of the agent’s guns away in the scuffle,” Merino said.

After taking the .40-caliber Heckler and Koch P2000 pistol, the immigrant pointed the weapon at the agent, Merino said. The weapon apparently jammed, though, and the agent recovered the pistol.
Border Patrol eventually detained eight people, including the attacker.

Agent Danny Tirado, the local Border Patrol spokesman, wouldn’t confirm any details about the fight or provide the agent’s name. Border Patrol released a statement instead.

“On March 12, 2014, RGV Sector Border Patrol agents working near Encino, Texas, attempted to apprehend eight subjects when one of the individuals attempted to wrestle away the agent’s firearm,” according to the statement. “During the scuffle, the firearm was discharged but no one was injured. No other details are available at this time. The FBI will be investigating the case.”

Tirado later clarified the statement, saying nobody was injured when the weapon discharged, but that he didn’t actually know whether or not anyone suffered other injuries.

The immigrant choked the agent and repeatedly punched him in the head, neck and back, Merino said. Additionally, the immigrant either fractured or broke a finger during the scuffle.

“I think, as the investigation will show, the agent involved handled the situation appropriately,” Merino said, adding later: “Luckily nobody was hurt more than they were.”

A Houston FBI spokeswoman declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

Immigrants who attempt to enter the United States without permission often walk through Brooks County ranchland attempting to avoid the Border Patrol checkpoint on U.S. 281 near Falfurrias.

While in the brush and elsewhere, immigrants who entered the country illegally routinely run from Border Patrol agents. The resulting confrontations occasionally turn violent.

Last May, a Guatemalan man stabbed a Border Patrol K-9 — a 2-year-old female German Shepherd named Dinie — while attempting to evade agents near Mission. The small knife narrowly missed the dog’s spinal cord. Luis Gilberto Cruz Solis pleaded guilty in October and was sentenced to six months in federal prison.

Under pressure from advocacy organizations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection tightened the agency’s use-of-force policy Friday.

The new regulations prohibit agents from shooting at people who throw rocks unless they consider the incident a life-threatening situation. Administrators also banned agents from shooting at fleeing vehicles.

“We want CBP to be more transparent. We’ve asked them to open up their books,” said Agent Paul Perez, who heads Local 3307. “Show the media, show these groups how often our agents get assaulted and how hard it is to get these guys prosecuted.”

http://www.themonitor.com/news/local...7a43b2370.html

BORDER PATROL AGENT ATTACKED AND ALMOST SHOT IN TEXAS BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRAN

BORDER PATROL AGENTATTACKED AND ALMOST SHOT IN TEXAS BY ILLEGALIMMIGRANT

by KRISTIN TATE
13 Mar 2014

An illegal alien on the U.S./Mexico border in Texas assaulted a Border Patrol agent, took his pistol and then allegedly attempted to shoot the agent. Breitbart Texas confirmed the agent is reporting in stable condition, despite a possible broken bone, according to the National Border Patrol Council.

Breitbart Texas spoke with Shawn Moran, Vice President of the National Border Patrol Council today and was told that the episode serves as a reminder of the “dangers” constantly faced “on our nation’s borders.”

The incident began on Wednesday morning after two BorderPatrol agents spotted some immigrants traveling near Encino, Texas.

According to The Monitor Rey Merino, an attorney for the National Border Patrol Council Local 3307, the immigrantpunched the agent all over his body and repeatedly choked him. During the altercation, the agent's service pistol accidentally fired into the air twice.

The alleged assailant eventually grabbed the pistol. Merino said, "He actually was able to take one of the agent’s guns away in the scuffle." The pistol later jammed right before the illegalimmigrant attempted to shoot the border agent.

Eight individuals were ultimately detained by Border Patrol, according to The Monitor.

Border Patrol released the following statement:

"On March 12, 2014, RGV Sector Border Patrol agents working near Encino, Texas, attempted to apprehend eight subjects when one of the individuals attempted to wrestle away the agent’s firearm. During the scuffle, the firearm was discharged but no one was injured. No other details are available at this time. The FBI will be investigating the case."

The statement was subsequently altered to reflect the fact that some individuals may have acquired relatively minor injuries.

Vice President Moran further told Breitbart Texas, “The Borderpatrol agent in question never gave up and relied on his training, even when it appeared he may lose his own life,” Moran told said.
“The agent should be commended for his actions and everyBorder Patrol agent is relieved that we are not having to mourn another fallen brother.”

Violence by illegal immigrants against Border Patrol agents on the Mexican/U.S. border is becoming increasingly common, and has led to some debate about what measures Border Patrol agents should be allowed to take in self-defense.

Breitbart Texas previously reported on an incident where Jesus Flores-Cruz, a Mexican citizen who investigators claim was most likely in the U.S. illegally began throwing rocks at a BorderPatrol agent from a hillside. The rocks being thrown gradually got larger - one was the size of a basketball - and some even hit the agent in the head. The agent, who remains unnamed, claims that he fired warning shots two times when he began to fear for his life. After Flores-Cruz refused to stop throwing rocks, theagent shot him dead.

In November 2013, Breitbart Texas’ Managing Director Brandon Darby reported extensively on a similar case where a number of illegal aliens lured, trapped and murdered border agent Robert Rosas Jr. to steal his night vision goggles. Just as in this case, theagent courageously stood his ground despite the risks as he was trained. The assailant, Marcos Rodriguez-Perez, was on “supervised release” at the time of the incident. Rodriguez-Perez was later sentenced to more than 50 years in prison.

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-T...egal-Immigrant