Posted on 08/27/2006 9:07:43 PM PDT by 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.
Well, they (rocks) can potentially kill or maim, but let's not get carried away here. As easily as a bullet is a bit of stretch. If that were true, I'd save money and carry a pocket full of rocks instead of a gun.
My question is, where were the Mexican authorities BEFORE he was shot, while the rock throwing etc was going down?
There have allegedly been plenty of incidents where they were very close by, and even trying to give cover.
Back in the late 1800's, a rail road section boss in colorado was attacked by a grizzly bear, while he was walking his section.
He KILLED the griz with thrown rocks, AND was uninjured.
He was a pitcher for either the company or town, forget which, baseball team.
Yes, in the right hands, rocks are deadly.
I know a couple of "town" pitchers that I would never walk in front of....
;-)
Rocks can cause GBI or death. A person throwing a rock intending to injure or worse does so at his own peril. Of course, that want stop the activists, race hustlers or ambulance chasers from villifying the officer. By the way I have seen BP video of a person being stoned to death (on the Mexican side) and they werent tied down etc. After the first good shot knocks you senseless you become an easier target to finish off.
beg to differ
I'm gonna guess he probably doesn't throw any more rocks.
LOL. good one!
Lesson learned. Gun covers rock.
The mistake was in not continuing to shoot.
When I see the riots in European countries, it just amazes me that they do not just shoot the rioters. You can not have people rioting and throwing things at police or private citizens. Just shoot them, the rioting and stone throwing will stop.
A civilization needs order or it is not civilized, it is a jungle as it is now.
He fell on his own rock.
Tell that to Reginald Denny.
Not only are rocks deadly, but at a distance how do they know that it is only a rock and not a grenade?
No word from the Mexican Gov? In normal countries, this would be an international incident.
But they're honorable, hard-working, religious folk just trying to make a better life for their families. /sarc
Our Southern border is either a joke or a serious line of defense. Glad to see there are a few who still take is seriously. The truth is that if this was the standard, supported response to rock throwers at the border, no one would lift that first stone.
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