COLVILLE, Wash. – An off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent responded to a shooting in progress in the parking lot of a local store earlier this evening.
The agent was traveling down U.S. Highway 395 when he heard multiple gunshots as he was driving by a local auto parts store. The agent quickly turned into the parking lot to assess what was taking place. He saw a man with a weapon standing over another man who was on the ground and also had a weapon. The agent identified himself as a federal agent and drew his weapon to stop the shooting. This caused the standing man to drop his weapon and walk towards his vehicle in an attempt to leave. The agent was able to hold the subject at gunpoint until a City of Colville Police Officer arrived to take the man into custody and secure both weapons. The man on the ground had received a gunshot wound and was transported to the local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
“Border Patrol agents are here to protect the communities that we serve. This is another example of the willingness and courage that our agents have to put their lives in danger to protect the public,” stated Acting Chief Patrol Agent David BeMiller. “If not for the quick action of this heroic agent and police officer, who knows if the outcome would have been the same in saving this man’s life.”