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.
Sher Zeive: "US citizens whose property is located close to the Mexican border are under siege from the illegals' crossings into the country. Why are so many of them being sued?"
David: "Each Mexican Consulate in the United States keeps a group of lawyers on retainer. The Mexican Consulate is much like a big city pimp who keeps a stable of prostitutes. These lawyers are U.S. educated but they work for the Mexican government within the U.S. judicial system. By treaty, whenever a Mexican citizen is encountered by U.S. law or a U.S. citizen, the Mexican Consul is notified. If a U.S. Citizen border resident detains a trespasser who turns out to be a Mexican illegal alien, he is turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol. The Border patrol submits a report to the Mexican Consul containing all the details such as names and location. The Consul then consults with one of his U.S. lawyers. The lawyer then brings a suit in civil court against the U.S. Citizen usually for some contrived "civil rights" violation. The result is that U.S. border residents are reluctant to protect themselves against illegal alien thugs, thieves and vandals. The court costs are simply too much for most of us, so why take a chance? This is the way the Mexican government assures the free passage of its citizens across privately owned U.S. property."
Why don't YOU stand there, and let them throw rocks at YOU?
Under any law I know of, a ROCK is deadly force, capable of being responded to with deadly force.
A bullet is deadlier then a rock. period.
Good Shooting---- Now reimburse the guy for his bullet
This is a perfectly called for use of force. A softball-sized rock can kill you. Don't let the pond scum at the ACLU scare you.
Yes, defending oneself from being hit in the head by a rock throwing north american equivalent of a palestinian is a mistake....
NOT IN MY BOOK. Self defense is never a mistake... already hit in the head once, I definately say this is unquestionably self defense. Mexico doesn't like it, let em declare war. SHould have never withdrew from Mexico City in the first place... SHould have just annexed it and ended the stupid corrupte nation 100 years ago.
A bullet is deadlier than a rock???? Funny, Stonings been killing folks long before bullets were invented.
A thrown rock is a deadly threat. They were attacking our border guards, and endangering the man the border patrol was attempting to save from drowning.
Since you think the border patrol made a mistake, what do you suggest they should have done? Should they fall back out of rock throwing range and let the guy drown?
Should they just keep doing their best while being hit by rocks? What do you suggest they do?
In my opinion it was a clearly justified shooting. The border patrol should come out with a statement saying that they were pleased that they were able to save the life of the man who was drowning despite the attack, and that such attacks will not be tolerated, and that deadly force in the face of such attacks is appropriate.
The media is going to attack the border patrol regardless of what they do. If you allow such media spin to dictate policy, then they are in control of our border policy.
That is complete idiocy.
The agent was attacked and defended himself and the person the agents were trying to save.
People throwing rocks from the Mexican side of the border at border patrol agents, or anyone else on the US side of the border for that matter, deserve to be shot unless they were attacked and were somehow attempting to defend themselves.
If you think that our border patrol should not defend themselves or should have to run away from assaults, then you are part of the problem.
The above may be true, but bulletts long ago surpassed rocks as the weapon of choice for police and military, just ask the survivors of these brave men:
You are missing the point. A rock being thrown at you is certainly deadly force, just as a baseball bat being swung at your head. Just because something is lower tech than the weapon you carry does not make it any less deadly.
These guys not only held their fire, they didn't fire back until after they were hit in the head at least once by a rock.... They were clearly acting in self defense, and while the press I am sure will try to spin it.. did the absolute right thing.
Self defense is an inalienable right, it doesn't matter if the person is using a weapon from the middle ages against you... or the latest high tech personal firearm... you have the inalienable right to defend yourself.
No sir, you have. Go back and re read my first post and the post I was responding to. I never denied that a rock can be deadly, I only aserted that a bullet is more so.
Look it up. They used a piece of concrete block on his head. Maybe you want to say that he was clubbed with a block, but it was a concrete block that did the damage.
Yes, along Doniphan. Right by Asarco.
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