Thread: U.S.-Mexico Border Crossing Closed After Shooting

http://cbs13.com/topstories/local_story_138195951.html

U.S.-Mexico Border Crossing Closed After Shooting The vehicle was under surveillance for migrant smuggling.

(AP) SAN DIEGO A busy U.S-Mexico border crossing was shut down Thursday after federal authorities shot and killed the driver of a car headed for Mexico, officials said.

The shooting occurred on southbound Interstate 5 around 3:30 p.m. about 50 feet north of the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world's busiest border crossing, which links Tijuana, Mexico with San Diego.

Officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection were attempting to stop the vehicle, which was under surveillance for suspected migrant smuggling.

The driver, who was not immediately identified, was pronounced dead at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds, said Maurice Luque, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

In a scene broadcast live by TV news helicopters, a black sport-utility vehicle sat in the middle of the roadway with a shattered driver's side window.

There were no immediate reports of any other injuries. It was unclear whether the vehicle was carrying any passengers.

The California Highway Patrol sealed off southbound access to the border and rush-hour traffic backed up for more than a mile.

Fatal Shooting Shuts Down Border Crossing

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/9241581/detail.html

Thousdands Stranded On Highway

POSTED: 4:08 pm PDT May 18, 2006
UPDATED: 7:13 pm PDT May 18, 2006

SAN DIEGO -- The San Ysidro Port of Entry was shut down Thursday after federal authorities shot and killed the driver of a car headed for Mexico, officials said.

The shooting occurred on southbound Interstate 5 around 3:30 p.m. about 50 feet north of the San Ysidro Port of Entry, which links Tijuana, Mexico with San Diego.

The driver, who was not immediately identified, was pronounced dead at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds, said Maurice Luque, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

The incident occurred after officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection attempted to stop a black Dodge Durango sport-utility vehicle that was under surveillance for suspected migrant smuggling. It is unclear why a vehicle traveling into Mexico would have been transporting smuggled people.

A federal agent rapped on the Durango's window with his baton, but the driver accelerated and the agent opened fire, according to witnesses. There were no immediate reports of any other injuries. Five other people in the vehicle were taken into custody, NBC 7/39 reported.

"All I heard was a series of shots, three or four shots," said witness John McNeese. "Then I saw people run over to the fence on the other side and look down, and suddenly there were police everywhere."

The California Highway Patrol sealed off southbound access to the border and rush-hour traffic backed up for more than a mile. Thousands became stranded on the highway in their cars. Many drivers on the north side of the border were standing on top of their cars and some were seen driving backwards on the freeway, NBC 7/39 reported.

The border is still open to pedestrian traffic. Traffic is expected to get heavy at the Otay Mesa as well, as drivers find alternative routes.

About 55,000 cars and 35,000 pedestrians cross through the San Ysidro Port of Entry every day, NBC 7/39 reported.