Border Patrol agent in fatal shooting named

By Susan Shroder5:19 P.M.FEB. 24, 2014

SAN DIEGO — The Sheriff’s Department on Monday identified the U.S. Border Patrol agent who fatally shot a suspected illegal border crosser last week as Daniel Basinger.

Basinger has been with the Border Patrol for about 2 1/2 years, sheriff’s homicide Lt. Glenn Giannantonio said. Basinger has returned to duty, although the investigation is continuing, the lieutenant said.

The man who was shot was earlier identified as Jesus Flores-Cruz, 41, a Mexican citizen.

Basinger and another agent were pursuing two other men suspected of crossing the border illegally on Feb. 18 east of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry when the agents separated during the pursuit.

Basinger then encountered another man, Flores-Cruz.

He ordered him to stop in both English and Spanish, but Flores-Cruz kept going and at one point climbed a hill and began throwing rocks at the agent, one the size of a basketball, authorities said.

Fearing for his life, Basinger opened fire. Two shots struck Flores-Cruz, who died at the scene.

Flores-Cruz was identified through fingerprints from a federal drug arrest in 1996.

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