A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer was involved in a shooting incident at the Port of Nogales, DeConcini Crossing in Nogales, Arizona, Thursday evening.
A 21-year-old U.S. citizen, who sustained a gunshot wound after he attempted to evade U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in what appeared to be a stolen vehicle, has since been moved to a hospital in southern Arizona for advanced medical care and is in critical condition.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP):
At approximately 7 p.m., on Feb. 7, a team of CBP officers conducting outbound vehicle inspections were alerted to an older model, tan-colored Ford pick-up truck, with a license plate registered to a different vehicle, attempting to exit the United States with two male occupants.
CBP officers approached the truck and questioned the driver before he exited the country. During questioning, the driver accelerated the vehicle towards Mexico and the officer shot at the fleeing driver.
After crossing a few yards into Mexico, the truck collided into a cement barrier.
The victim was initially transported to a hospital in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.
CBP reports that the passenger of the vehicle did not sustain injuries and was released on scene by Mexican authorities. The CBP officer was not injured.
CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility and Homeland Security Investigations are currently involved in the ongoing investigation.