Skip to main content

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Archived Content
    In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.
  1. Home
  2. Newsroom
  3. Local Media Release
  4. Statement by Chief Patrol Agent Rodolfo Karisch of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector on the Assault on a Border Patrol Agent that Resulted in a Use of Force Shooting

Statement by Chief Patrol Agent Rodolfo Karisch of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector on the Assault on a Border Patrol Agent that Resulted in a Use of Force Shooting

Release Date
Thu, 11/30/2017

A U.S. Border Patrol agent discharged his service issued firearm, striking an assaultive male subject at approximately 11:30 a.m. (MST) on Wednesday, Nov. 29, in a remote area of the Baboquivari Mountain Range west of Three Points, Arizona. The assaultive subject later died as a result of his wounds.

Two agents were following a group of suspected illegal aliens through a rugged and remote mountainous area in response to a sensor activation. Both agents encountered the group of men 21 miles north of the U.S./Mexico border.

One of the subjects attacked an agent attempting to arrest him and gained control of the agent’s weapon. The other agent shot the subject in response.

One agent suffered non-life threating injuries during the assault and was later transported to a Tucson hospital for treatment.

Agents arrested three other members of the group - all adult male Guatemalan nationals - for immigration violations.

The incident highlights the threat and dangers our agents face daily in protecting our borders and communities. I️ am proud of these men and women who keep us safe.

The lead investigative agency is the Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department jointly supported by the FBI, and CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021