A Customs and Border Protection officer shot a driver who refused to stop at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The shooting on the night of Feb. 7 came after the driver tried to run over the Border Patrol officer, prompting the officer and possibly other officers to fire as the driver tried to speed away, entering Mexico, Nogales Mayor Arturo Garino told the Arizona Daily Star.
The incident took place at the Port of Nogales, DeConcini Crossing in Nogales, Arizona.
The vehicle came to a stop several yards into Mexico after the driver was hit by a gunshot, according to the border agency. The driver was rushed to a nearby hospital but later died. The officer was not injured.
The port of entry was shut down to traffic going into Mexico for hours after the shooting before fully reopening. The Nogales Police Department announced the partial closure, saying it was “due to an emergency.”
Just arriving here at the Deconcini Port of Entry. We’ll have the latest on this shooting coming up at 10. #News4Tucson pic.twitter.com/zMIvTsDSuv
— Eric Fink (@EricMillerFink) February 8, 2019
#BREAKING New video coming in to us @TelemundoAZ on the shooting at the Nogales Port of Entry. Live with all the details at 10 P.M. #Nogales pic.twitter.com/dc1pSweyVG
— Christian Villegas (@chrisvillegas29) February 8, 2019
Mexican authorities told reporters that two men were in the vehicle, a pickup truck, that tried to pass through the border, reported Nogales International. The pickup crashed on the south side of the port of entry.
The driver of the truck was reportedly shot in the head and later died; the passenger was unharmed but was arrested.
A picture shared by Nogales International showed the truck, with its doors open and the passenger sitting on the ground in handcuffs. A passerby told Tuscon News Now reporter Melissa Egan that the truck was “filled with bullets.”
By Friday morning, “things are business as usual” at the port of entry, Tuscon News Now reporter Vicki Karr said.
DeConcini Port of Entry shut down after shooting https://t.co/3MRKzDmv7C pic.twitter.com/MN8phfE2pf
— NogalesInternational (@nogalesnews) February 8, 2019
RIGHT NOW: Things are business as usual at the #DeConciniPortOfEntry after it was shutdown following a shooting involving a @CBP agent. We’re live this morning at the port bringing you the latest information. @TucsonNewsNow #KOLD #Tucson #Nogales #CBP #SouthernArizona pic.twitter.com/Ajp6oR4GTb
— Vicki Karr (@vickikarrnews) February 8, 2019
Female Border Patrol Agent Killed
A female Border Patrol agent who had worked for the agency since 2003 was killed in Texas the line of duty earlier in February.
Donna Doss, 49, was in Abilene at 8:50 p.m. on Feb. 2 responding to a call for assistance from a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper on a frontage road.
While on the scene, she was struck and killed by a passing vehicle. Doss was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation into the crash was launched.
Doss is survived by her husband, father, mother, two stepchildren, a sister, and two brothers.
Del Rio Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Matthew Hudak said that the loss of Doss is difficult.
“Agent Doss died while performing her duty, protecting the community and the United States. Our heart, prayers, and support go out to Agent Doss’ family in this time of need,” he said in a statement.
“Last night, while on duty, United States Border Patrol Agent Donna Doss lost her life in Abilene, Texas. Agent Doss of Class 569 served for nearly 16 years. On behalf of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), my deepest condolences go out to her family and loved ones,” added CBP Commissioner Keven McAleenan in a statement.