After the Fast and Furious scandal, and 26 Border Patrol agents’ deaths since 2002, the people along the border are weary of the continued failure to secure the border and leery of the empty promises to protect them. As a result, the statement released Friday by FBI Special Agent James Turgal, suggesting that “friendly fire” took the life of Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Ivie and left one agent wounded was greeted initially with skepticism.
However, when Cochise county authorities reported that the FBI’s ballistic testing came to the indisputable conclusion that the shooting was a result of “friendly fire,” distrust was replaced by dismay.
Cochise Sheriff’s Chief Rod Rothrock summed up the public’s sentiment, “This event is tragic and the conclusions of the investigation, make it no less so.”
Turgal released a statement on Friday in which he claimed that “there are strong preliminary indications that the death of United States Border Patrol Agent Nicholas J. Ivie and the injury to a second agent were the result of an accidental shooting incident involving only the agents. At the appropriate time, further information will be provided, but while the investigation continues, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.”
Early reports indicated that Mexican authorities had made two arrests in the matter. Those premature reports had increased the general skepticism of the early unconfirmed “friendly fire” reports.
Ivie along with three other agents were inspecting a tripped sensor that was installed underground to alert authorities of illegal border crossing. Agent Ivie and two other agents were ambushed near Bisbee, Arizona, at approximately 1:30 am Tuesday according to the National Border Patrol Council. The three agents were on mounted patrol in the area about five miles north of the border and seven miles east of Bisbee south of Arizona Highway 80.
Because of the rocky terrain, the agents dismounted and were hiking into the area when they were suddenly fired upon. Agent Ivie was fatally wounded and one other agent was less severely wounded. The wounded agent was airlifted to University Medical Center. He was shot in the ankle and buttocks and suffered non-life threatening injuries.
On Thursday, Agent Ivie’s family and friends gathered for a news conference in Sierra Vista. His wife Christy and his brother Joel, a Border Patrol agent who also worked horse-patrol duty watched as the slain agent’s loved one’s talked about his life.
On Friday, Homeland Security Security Janet Napolitano and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Deputy Commissioner David V. Aguilar, and CBP Commander of Arizona Joint Field Command Jeffrey Self, met with the family of slain Agent Nicholas Ivie. Napolitano, arrived at the Border Patrol Station at about 10:30 a.m. and left at about 2:30 p.m, according to the Sierra Vista Herald. They visited the area where the incident occurred.
According to the Herald, Commander Self said that he met with Agent Ivie’s family and advised them if the investigation reaches the conclusion that this shooting was the result of friendly fire, then it changes none of the following facts:
“That Agent Ivie gave the ultimate sacrifice and died serving his country; that he died in the line of duty and will be honored as such for his final act of service; that Agent Ivie served for more than six years protecting this country against those who threaten our way of life; and that he will be remembered by all of us who served along side him for his character, his kindness and his loyalty.”