Late Wednesday evening, a veteran Border Patrol agent encountered a group of people attempting to cross the border under cover of darkness, in the same manner as thousands of violent criminals and drug smugglers have used. When the people were confronted and told to lay on the ground, they ignored his command and instead ran – not away, but at the officer. For his safety, mindful of recent attacks on border patrol agents, he fired his weapon. (Fox, NBC) One of the attackers fell, and the others ran away. Responding agents attempted to render aid to the person who had been shot but the attacker died of her wounds despite the efforts of the agents and EMTs.
The official government statement reads:
On May 23, 2018, at approximately 12:22 p.m., a lone Border Patrol Agent responded to a report of illegal activity near a culvert by Centeno Lane in Rio Bravo, Texas where he discovered a group of illegal aliens.
Initial reports indicate that as the agent attempted to apprehend the group, he came under attack by multiple subjects using blunt objects. The agent fired at least one round from his service issued firearm, fatally wounding one of the assailants. The rest of the group fled the scene. Border Patrol Agents called for EMS and administered first aid until the Rio Bravo Fire Department arrived.
Three illegal aliens related to the incident were subsequently apprehended by responding agents.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Texas Rangers.
The attacker has subsequently been identified as Claudia Patricia Gomez Gonzalez of Guatemala. The Guatemalan Consulate has sent members to the scene. (Guardian)
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A young Guatemalan migrant was killed on Wednesday by the U.S. Border Patrol. Claudia Patricia Gomez Gonzalez had left her native Guatemala in search of a better life. She had that life taken from her. From the Guardian:
Gómez left her home in the rural village San Juan Ostuncalco in the western region of Quetzaltenango earlier this month and travelled to the US to find work to pay for further education, according to an interview with her mother broadcast on a local TV channel.
“She told me she wanted to keep studying at university but we don’t have the money … We’re poor and there are no jobs here, that’s why she travelled to the US – but they killed her. Immigration killed her,” said Lidia Gonzalez. “She didn’t do anything wrong.”
Speaking through her tears, she said: “I just want them to send me her body, I don’t know why immigration killed my child.”
The border patrol initially said that their agent was attacked using blunt instruments. That story has already changed to admit that the migrants had no weapons. Their official statement can be found here.
The shooting is being investigated by experienced law enforcement who are independent of the Border Patrol: the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Texas Rangers.
