A U.S. Border Patrol agent shot and injured a suspect near the U.S.-Mexico border east of Douglas Monday.
Border Patrol spokesman Rob Daniels said that at 10:45 a.m. on Monday, agents responded to a sensor activation southeast of Rodeo, N.M. Agents believed two vehicles crossed over the border illegally east of Douglas and were traveling north. Agents found a truck filled 2,341 pounds of marijuana that was stuck in the mud.
An agent approached the truck, and two occupants ran away into nearby mountains near the New Mexico state line, east of Apache, Ariz. The agent chased down one suspect, then tried to arrest him in a struggle. The suspect allegedly assaulted the agent, who shot the suspect in the upper torso.
Daniels said initial reports indicate that an agent discharged his service issued sidearm during a struggle with one of the suspects. The suspect was later transported to a Tucson hospital via helicopter and remains in federal custody.
Agents arrested the other suspect after a brief search. He was treated for non-life threatening injuries and released.
The FBI, ICE Homeland Security Investigations, CBP Internal Affairs, and Tucson Sector's Critical Incident Team are investigating the incident. In accordance with CBP Policy, the agent has been placed on administrative leave.
