Thread: Border Patrol agent kills suspect who grabs gun

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Border Patrol agent kills suspect who grabs gun


SIGNONSANDIEGO NEWS SERVICES

11:22 a.m. October 2, 2005

SAN DIEGO – A man who was shot by a Border Patrol agent in Otay Mesa early Sunday as he grappled for the officer's gun has died at a hospital, authorities said.
The shooting in the 2300 block of Roll Drive happened about 2:15 a.m., as the officer tried to get a motorist out of an SUV, San Diego police homicide Lt. Kevin Rooney said.

The officer had spotted the Chevy Suburban driving in the area of Roll and Siempre Viva Road and became suspicious because of reports that a Suburban had been seen in the area picking up suspected undocumented immigrants, Rooney said.

There are also no businesses that stay open that late in the area so the presence of the SUV was doubly suspicious, Rooney said.

The agent stopped the vehicle and took the man's driver's license, then asked the motorist to step out of the vehicle, Rooney said.

The man had a female passenger with him, Rooney said.

The driver tried to drive away but the agent, who was standing on the running board, reached in and turned off the ignition, Rooney said.

The driver quickly shifted gears into drive and tried to start the vehicle again, but the agent once more turned off the ignition and put the gearshift into park, Rooney said.

The third time the driver tried to start the SUV, the agent pulled his gun and ordered him to stop but the suspect grabbed the pistol's barrel and tried to wrest it from the agent.

The officer fired the gun and wounded the driver, Rooney said.

The suspect's passenger was not injured.

The suspect was taken to a trauma center, where he died at 3:31 a.m., Rooney said.

Agents recovered a handgun from the suspect's waistband and also a set of handcuffs.

The woman was arrested on outstanding felony warrants and was booked into Las Colinas Detention Facility.

San Diego Police Department homicide detectives are investigating the case with the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The agent involved is a 10-year veteran of the Border Patrol.

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Motorist fatally shot during Border Patrol stop identified


UNION-TRIBUNE BREAKING NEWS TEAM

11:59 a.m. October 3, 2005

SAN DIEGO – The motorist who was fatally shot early Sunday morning by a Border Patrol agent during a traffic stop has been identified as 29-year-old Jose Alba.

Police said Alba was shot by a 10-year patrol veteran after he grabbed the barrel of the agent's gun during a traffic stop.

The border agent had pulled over a Chevrolet Suburban at Siempre Viva Road and Roll Drive in Otay Mesa about 2:15 a.m. because it matched the description of a vehicle suspected of transporting undocumented migrants, police said.

Rooney said Alba shut off his vehicle and handed his license to the officer, but balked when the agent asked Alba to step out of the vehicle.

Instead, Alba turned the key and started the engine.

The agent stepped on the running board of the SUV, reached inside and turned off the ignition. The scenario repeated, with the driver shifting the vehicle into gear and trying to start it, and the agent again shutting off the engine and put it back into park.

The third time the driver tried to start the SUV, the agent pulled out his gun and ordered the driver to stop, police said.

But the man grabbed the barrel of the weapon and tried to wrestle away control of it, which prompted the agent to shoot, police said. Alba died at a hospital around 3:30 a.m.

A passenger in the SUV was arrested for two outstanding felony warrants and booked into Las Colinas Women's Detention facility, authorities said.

Border Patrol agents found a gun in Alba's waistband and police said he was carrying handcuffs.

Alba, a U.S. citizen, had been staying in hotels in the San Ysidro area, said homicide Lt. Kevin Rooney. At the time of his death, he was being sought on a felony warrant on charges of burglary, auto theft and weapon possession.