Border Patrol agents involved in shooting
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said United States Border Patrol agents were involved in a shooting on Wednesday, north of Tombstone, Arizona that injured one person.
At approximately 3:45 p.m., a Black 2008 Dodge Dakota driving northbound on State Route 80, collided with traffic barricades at the State Route 80 Immigration Checkpoint, which was temporarily closed due to adverse weather conditions. The Immigration Checkpoint is located at the intersection of northbound State Route 80 and State Route 82.
CBP said two agents were at the checkpoint at the time of this incident, both agents were on foot as the vehicle came crashing through the traffic barricades. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was shooting out the window at the agents. The agents, fearing for their lives, immediately returned fire striking the driver once in the upper left arm stopping the assault.
The driver was provided medical attention on scene by an EMT Border Patrol Agent and was subsequently flown via helicopter to a Tucson area hospital for advance medical treatment. The driver is in custody and remains at an undisclosed Tucson hospital recovering from a non-life threating injury.
The driver has been identified as 76-year-old Gary Smith from Tombstone, Arizona.
The agents on scene were not injured. The immigration checkpoint has re-opened at this time. No other injuries occurred as a result of this incident.
The FBI is leading the investigation, with the assistance of CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, the Tombstone Marshal’s Office and the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department. The Border Patrol is fully cooperating with the investigation.
