Ranger Kriss Eggle, 28, National Park Service
Murdered, August 9, 2002
On August 9, 2002, Ranger Eggle and three U.S. Border Patrol officers responded after Mexican Police reported that two armed fugitives had fled across the border into the United States at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. A border patrol helicopter gave chase and directed Eggle and the other officers to the location where three suspects had ditched their vehicle. The American officers pursued the fugitives on foot as they ran into nearby bushes. One of the Mexican nationals was caught, and during the attempt to apprehend the other two, Eggle was ambushed and shot by one of the suspects with an AK-47. Eggle was hit below his bullet-proof vest and died at the scene before the emergency helicopter arrived.
The shooter, Panfilio Murillo Aguila, was shot to death by Mexican officers standing on the Mexican side of the border.
Officer, Enrique Hernandez, 27, Las Vegas Police Department
Shot and critically injured on December 12, 2002 Officer Hernandez was conducting a routine traffic stop when Saul Garcia-Morales, aka Javier Durate Chavez fled the scene on foot after a brief vehicle pursuit. Officer Hernandez chased Garcia-Morales into a nearby apartment where Garcia opened fire hitting Hernandez six times. Officer Hernandez was shot in the forearm, chest, hand, side and calf with bullets entering his neck and back. He had been on the force for three months but relied on his extensive survival and tactical training during eight years in the marines to summon the clear thinking and courage that kept him alive. Officer Hernandez was hospitalized for 12 days in critical condition and was unconscious for six of those days. He fought to remain conscious long enough to describe the suspect and the circumstances surrounding the shooting. When he awoke from his coma, doctors told him they were surprised he survived. As of the date of this update, Officer Hernandez has returned to light duty after five surgeries. Although he hopes to return to full duty in the future, he continues to battle significant medical limitations.
Garcia, who had been convicted of auto burglary in 1997 and deported several times between 1998 and 2002, was killed by Las Vegas SWAT officers in the ensuing gun battle. He had just attempted an armed robbery and believed that Officer Hernandez had been summoned by that victim.