Border Patrol agent fatally shoots man rock-throwing man

KVOA Tucson Channel 4 News (AP Story) ^ | August 27, 2006

[SandRat]

YUMA, Ariz. -- A U.S. Border Patrol agent fatally shot a man who was throwing rocks at officers from the Mexican side of the border late Saturday, officials said.

The incident began after agents spotted a suspicious vehicle near the Andrade Port of Entry west of the California-Arizona border, just north of the international border and alongside the Colorado River.

The driver fled and then tried to swim across a pond along the river in an effort to return to Mexico, the agency said in a press release.

But the man began to struggle to stay afloat and agents threw him a flotation device and began to try to rescue him. Several people on the other side of the border then began throwing rocks at the agents, and one officer was struck in the head.

The officer then shot at a man who was getting ready to throw another rock, the Border Patrol said. Mexican authorities took the man to a hospital, where he died.

Attacks on Border Patrol agents have become more common in recent years, and this year agents say they're seeing smugglers become even more violent as more federal resources make crossing into the U.S. ever more difficult.

Smugglers are throwing softball-sized rocks, hunks of concrete and whole bricks at agents, either out of frustration or to try to get authorities to back off.

[SandRat]

Now we're gonna see More MALDEF, la RAZA, MeChA, ACLU lawsuits sheesh!!!!

[Minus_The_Bear]

Ughhh.... huge mistake.

[neodad]

I have had Mexican kids throw rocks at my truck driving along the Border Highway in El Paso.

[Graybeard58]

Never bring a rock to.......

[manic4organic]

Never bring a rock to a gunfight.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Huge mistake? Rocks can kill or maim just as easily as a bullet.

[manic4organic]

Eight seconds!

[SandRat]

Goliath found that out, didn't he.

[Graybeard58]

Had I finished the sentence it would have been a tie.

[Apercu]

A rock thrown at your head is deadly force. If it hits you in the right spot i.e. the temple, you can die.Those Border Patrol agents have every right to defend themselves with the same deadly force if necessary.

[Minus_The_Bear]

Watch and see how this plays in the media. I repeat... huge mistake. This is exactly what they want.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Major career ender, unfortunately. I am thinking a new cross-border memorial bridge to the one shot, perhaps an adjacent theme park with rides through rapids and diversity educational pavilions.

[DuxFan4ever]

Have to use whatever force necessary to save the life of the drowning man.
The agent did the right thing by shooting.

[VU4G10]

"officer was struck in the head"

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

It was wrong to shoot this guy. Should have used artillery.

[philetus]

Ughhh.... huge mistake."

Will you let me throw baseball size rocks at your head?

[Minus_The_Bear]

No. But if I shot you the media probably wouldn't turn you into a martyr either. Just watch how this border guard will be vilified.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

The thing is....rocks, and other missles, can hide the REAL weapons.

If anyone has spent any time in N. Ireland, before the 08/94 "cease fire", they'd know that.

[CindyDawg]

Regardless of how the media plays it, one had already been hit in the head. If our border patrol's life is in danger to we sacrifice their lives for PC?