Posted on 02/01/2005 3:29:34 PM PST by SandRat
DOUGLAS - Individuals on the Mexican side of the border shot at a pair of U.S. Border Patrol agents on Friday and Monday, according to an agency's Tucson Sector spokeswoman.
The two incidents bring the number of shootings aimed at agents in Cochise County to three since last Wednesday and four since Oct. 1, Andrea Zortman said. All involved agents from the Douglas Station.
"They are definitely a lot more aggressive," Zortman said about assaults against agents.
In the most two recent shooting incidents in the county, a vehicle and material protecting cameras were hit, she said.
Around 6 p.m. Friday, an agent was patrolling near the Douglas International Airport when the agent "heard three distinct shots coming from Mexico," Zortman said.
The agent moved to a secure location as other agents responded to secure the scene, she said, adding, no suspects were encountered.
An examination of the agents' vehicle revealed it had been hit twice, one hitting the rear tire on the driver's side and the other went through the front bumper with the bullet lodging in the motor, Zortman said.
The Monday incident took place about 12:30 a.m. and involved an agent who was patrolling about two miles east of Douglas, near a remote video surveillance site's camera pole, she said.
"The agent heard four shots coming from Mexico," the spokeswoman said.
Again the agent headed for cover as additional agents responded, and again, no suspects were found, she added.
An inspection of the camera system was made and "revealed four bullet holes in the Plexiglas that protects the solar panels of the system," the spokeswoman said. The camera system was undamaged.
Last Wednesday's incident involved a shooting near the Douglas airport and was reported Saturday by the Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review. In that case an agent was fired on and said he heard bullets whiz by his head. The shots came from Mexico.
As agents were looking for the culprits, a vehicle crossed into the United States from Mexico, which apparently as a drug-load truck.
But once agents saw that action, they began a pursuit and the truck went back into Mexico.
Zortman said it is not unusual for drug smugglers to create some kind of diversion.
Since Oct. 1 through Monday, there have been 90 assault incidents against agents in the Tucson Sector, of which 27 have happened in Cochise County, Zortman said.
For all of the previous federal fiscal year there were a total of 118 assaults on agents.
Besides the shootings so far this year, assaults have included attempts to run down agents with vehicles and rocks thrown at agents.
Luckily, no agents have been injured, Zortman said.
But if the assaults continue there is a possibility that Border Patrol people may be injured or killed, she said.
If I say what I want to on this or the Admin Mod will get me.
ping
Drug smugglers? Illegals? No difference.
It sounds as dangerous as Iraqi checkpoints. Needless to say, Iraq is a war zone.
I say we shoot back with an A-10 tank killer.
When does the shooting back begin?
In a perverted way, the more of this the better. I want to see the pressure build on Washington to fix our border and illegal problem and they need to feel all the heat possible.
"Diversion" my arse. How attempted murder.
How ABOUT attempted murder...
Shoot back with something bigger!
"If I say what I want to on this or the Admin Mod will get me."
Heard that, pardner.
Most frustrating of all is that if a BP agent did respond, they'd probably get investigated. If a regular citizen dared to defend themselves, I imagine it'd be worse than that. I am thankful that I am a tad further North, but it's bleeding all of us. Whenever I think about you folks down there right along the border and what you are being subjected to, it is all I can do to avoid erupting into a fit of rage.
Time for harsh sanctions against vicente fox and all the little foxes!
Claymores and Helo gunships would be more 'reasonable'.
Seriesly tho, Just a few well placed rifle shots should do the trick.
Does the .50 BMG have the range to reach Mexico city ???
....although the fault certainly doesn't lie with our skilled and brave Border Patrolmen.
It lies with our politicians who deny that there's a war to begin with.
He gets me alot too. So I probably won't post what should be said either.
I want that winning raffle ticket. It looks like I'm gonna need it.
"Harsh sanctions" defined as being left alone with these border patrolmen on a lonely stretch of desert road for about 15 minutes.
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