Posted on 03/03/2006 9:39:31 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
EL PASO, Texas- A U.S. Border Patrol agent in El Paso shot at a group of people hurling rocks at him from across the Rio Grande on Thursday. No one was injured.
Robert Boatright, assistant chief patrol agent for the Border Patrol in El Paso, said the group of suspected illegal immigrants threw the rocks after running back across the river from the United States when they spotted the agent. They threw the rocks from about 25 yards away.
The agent, who Boatright did not identify, fired at least once.
Ciudad Juarez police officers went to the area but did not find anyone, Boatright said.
Thursday's confrontation, reported in the midst of the federal trial of two agents accused of unlawfully shooting a suspected drug smuggler and trying to hide the crime last year, is one more example of the rising danger along the U.S.-Mexico border, Boatright said. More than 770 assaults were reported last fiscal year, compared with just 396 in 2004.
The incident also coincided with a U.S. Senate hearing about increasing violence along the border.
So-called "rockings," as Border Patrol officials describe incidents like Thursday's, have become so prevalent in recent years that the federal agency has erected high-impact plastic glass barriers in spots along the Rio Grande where agents can park their vehicles in and around El Paso. Agents in some parts of the border are even starting to see "flaming rocks" _ rocks wrapped in cloth, soaked in alcohol and lit on fire.
"We've had rock assaults where there was certainly sufficient velocity to break a windshield," Boatright said.
"Nobody did get hurt today but rocks can cause severe damage to someone's skull or face."
Fence and Troops!
They're just throwing the rocks that Americans won't!
A Mexican Clintifada?
Typical mexicans bring a rock to a gun fight
Importing rocks.
Don't bring rocks to a gun fight.
This border issue needs to be dealt with, now. The border is the longest landing, complete disagreement I have with this President. He is ignoring the problem and he should know better.
Yep. Illegal importation of rocks.
FIRE!!
This ain't Palestine. We shoot.
He missed from 25 yards? That man needs marksmanship training!
"No one was injured."
I certainly hope this was a case of an intentional shot that missed, versus an intentional miss.
The Cubs want to interview anyone who can throw a rock 25 yards and have it be taken seriously by the target.
Then the Mexican goobermint would sue the US or sending lead pollution their way ;)
What are "plastic glass" barriers?
Are you suggesting that an AP story is a little weak on true facts?
I refer to our politicians as corrupt as they completely ignore the needs of their constituents while towing the line for the special interest groups who don't want anything to be changed. What the hell is it going to take to get these crooked weasels to do something?
It is called "Political Masturbation".
And that is what ALL politicians do best.
LOL!
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