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.
Personally I'd like to see BP agents vehicles armed with MK19's and 50 Cals.
That would stop this kind of crap real fast.
"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."
Aha! This is an overt act of war! By shooting the solar panels it's obvious that they are trying to destroy our power grid! This is a violation of the Patriot Act or something like that.
"When does the shooting back begin?"
It doesn't. America has been castrated when it comes to dealing with Mexico. It's racist to resist, although I have yet to figure out just what the Hispanic "race" is? Anyone know?
Bush doesn't know it. You might want to tell him.
LOL Too true.
Remember how the Reagan administration was maligned for placing mines in Nicaraguan harbors during the "sandinista revolution?"
I was so elated about Bush in 2000 that I didn't anything would ever get me mad at him....then he started about immigration.....
Excellent idea....and that moat should be wider and filled with water and hungry alligators.....
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