"It's like it never happened": Terry family on agent's murder
Posted: Feb 16, 2011 9:49 PM CST Updated: Feb 16, 2011 9:49 PM CST

Reporter: Joel Waldman

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) – Murdered Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry is remembered as an American hero. But, two months and one day after someone gunned him down in the southern Arizona desert, Brian's family says the government he bravely worked for has forgotten him, "Is it upsetting for your family that you're still not getting answers?" KGUN9 asked. "Oh yeah, we're left in the dark here. I mean, the only time you ever hear anything is from the media out there where you're at (Tucson). But, as far as out here (Michigan), it's like it never happened," said Kent Terry, Jr., Brian's older brother.

"I'm devastated! It brings us back to day one. Here you are thinking you have the right people in custody and now they're saying they don't! Do we have the right people?" asked Brian's sister, Kelly Terry. Apparently not; as KGUN9 news first reported earlier this week, three of the four suspects originally detained in this case pleaded down to misdemeanor immigration crimes and will be deported.

"Have you heard anything about this fourth suspect, I mean, are you getting any information at all?" KGUN9 asked. "The only thing I heard is what you just said. There was one illegal wounded at the scene. That's the last I heard of it. And, the only thing I heard of it," said Kent.

Officials will just say that fourth suspect was wounded. But, they won't say how he was wounded, or if he'll even be charged in connection with Brian's death.

And, now, another wound. Iowa's Senator Charles Grassley wrote a letter today to the Attorney General of the United States, Eric Holder. The letter reads, in part, "…when asked whether Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) had encouraged any gun dealer to proceed with sales to known or suspected traffickers such as Avila, the briefers said only that they did not have any "personal knowledge" of that."

Senator Grassley says ATF whistle blowers told the senator guns used in the shooting death of Brian came from a Glendale gun shop and that agency knew of the sale. Those whistle blowers told the senator it was a botched operation.

"As far as the ATF to do that, as far as I'm concerned the blood's on their hands. They should never have done that. Them (sic) guns should've been destroyed not put back on the market for them bandits to get a hold of," added Kent.

Carolyn Terry, Brian's stepmother, praised Senator Grassley for pursuing an investigation into the ATF. She wrote this email to him, "It's hard to accept that our son was shot and murdered with a gun that was bought in the U.S. we have not had any contact from the border patrol or any other agents since returning home on the 22nd (of January). Our calls are not returned. I truly feel that our son's death is a cover-up and they hope that we will go away."

KGUN9 contacted Grassley's office this afternoon and was told the senator is not speaking publicly on this yet.

In a senate committee meeting, Grassley claims that on December 16, one day after Brian died, ATF tracked two serial numbers on guns found at the scene back to Jaime Avila, a suspected trafficker. Grassley claims the ATF tracked those same guns to that same dealer one year earlier, but then let the guns slip through their fingers.

http://www.kgun9.com/global/story.asp?s=14046416