Nogales, Arizona - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and a U.S. Border Patrol agent were involved in a use-of-force incident Friday afternoon while working at the Port of Nogales Mariposa Crossing.
Reports show that a subject attempted to evade Border Patrol agents by driving south through the port of entry (POE), and then swerved his vehicle at officers who were working there.
OFO officers and a Border Patrol agent fired their service weapons at the driver during his violent assault with a vehicle. The driver sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was airlifted to a Tucson area hospital. There was also a passenger in the vehicle who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and is currently in federal custody.
No officers or agents were injured in the incident.
The incident created a significant impact to southbound traffic through the POE. As a result, southbound traffic lanes through the Mariposa Crossing have been temporarily closed. Traffic has been re-routed as the investigation continues.
The FBI, CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations are jointly investigating the incident. The U.S. Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations are cooperating fully with the investigation.
More information will be forthcoming as it becomes available.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials welcome assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. Contacting the Border Patrol to report illicit activity could result in saving someone’s life.