Border Patrol Issues Statement About Officer-Involved Fatal Shooting

LAREDO, TX – At approximately 9:40 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Border Patrol agents, working in partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Webb County Constable’s Office, Precinct 2, responded to reports of possible human smuggling activity near Green and Smith Streets.  There, the agents encountered a tractor-trailer with illegal aliens loaded inside. As agents began to secure the scene, another vehicle with more illegal aliens arrived. Border Patrol and HSI agents identified themselves as they approached the tractor-trailer. The vehicle driver suddenly accelerated in reverse, striking and pinning an alien and a Border Patrol agent against another vehicle. 

The driver did not respond to verbal commands to stop accelerating the vehicle and agents deployed lethal force to stop the threat. The driver died at the scene. The injured Border Patrol agent was transported to the hospital and released this morning.  

The DHS OIG responded to the scene and the incident remains under investigation by the Laredo Police Department and FBI as well as the CBP’s and ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility.