Border Patrol agent fatally shoots rock-throwing man

[Desertdog]

Border Patrol agent fatally shoots rock-throwing man
http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=5333826


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.

 

[orangelo]

So the border agents try to save a drowning man/criminal and the mexicans throw rocks at the rescuers?

Good shoot if you ask me.

 

[beerslurpy]

Dont throw rocks at people? That's the only lesson I'm getting from this.

 

[thefitzvh]

While normally, I would say that shooting a man who is throwing rocks at you is reprehensible.

However, if they were interfering with the efforts of the border patrol to save a man's life, then they deserved it.


Rough call, but I think the agent did the right thing, and I hope he isn't having too much trouble with his decision.

 

[ceetee]

If I shoot a man that's on the other side of the border, what jurisdiction gets to arrest me?

 

[Sindawe]

About freaking time.

 

[longeyes]

No doubt the Left will have its usual field day with this one. Obviously they haven't taken softball-sized rocks to the head.

 

[carlrodd]

perhaps that man's close circle of friends will think twice before assaulting the border patrol again.....or perhaps not. they'll start to wise up if enough get shot. good job border patrol agent.

 

[Biker]

A) As a kid, I accidentally put a big dent in another kid's dome during a rock fight. He came out okay but with a steel plate in his head. We were just playing but it shows what can happen.

B) Don't bring a rock to a gunfight.

C) Sympathy can be found in the dictionary between sh....never mind.

Biker

 

[Erebus]

If you are trying to hit me in the head with a softball sized rock or chunk of concrete I see that as deadly force. One guy throwing rocks I can dodge and run. Not a shooting situation. Several throwing rocks while I'm trying to save a drowning man is whole different story. I get hit there's a good chance I die and the drowning man dies, I run away good chance the drowning man dies. Unacceptable on both counts. Sounds like they did what they were forced to do based on these early facts.

As much as I don't like border jumpers I can't stand by and watch a human being drown without doing everything I can to save them. That's not to say I agree with setting up water stations in the desert, that only encourages illegal crossings. I don't mind saving their lives when you find them in trouble, but don't do anything to encourage them.

 

[Frog48]

If the rock-throwing morons were on US soil, I'd have no problem with the border patrol taking a shot at them. But shooting across international borders is unacceptable, because thats how wars are started. You gotta look at the big picture. I know that a war is unlikely between the US and Mexico because of an incident such as this, but its the principle of the matter. Wars have started from incidents smaller than this...

I hope the officer is reprimanded, at the least.

Personally, if I had been in that situation... I would have backed out of range of the rock-throwers, and let the fool drown.

 

[NevJohn]

Grant48...... shooting across the border, yeah, it might start a war, but take a look at this photo from this past weekend Minuteman rally in Maywood, CA. Note that the "pro-illegals" hauled down the American Flag at the Post Office, and ran up the Mexican flag. All this while the Maywood PD did nothing about it. Hmmmm. Now this might start a war; at least in alot of citizens who witness it are very upset, as it seems possible Civil War will break out again, 150 years after the first.

The US government; namely Mr. Bush and Chaney (noticed I didnt say "Mr President") along with the congress better get this immigration problem fixed soon, or there will be a revolt of some sorts. Sorry for the rant..

John
(I do not belong to the MM)

 

[bowline]

The Mexican government aids and abets the border invasion with maps. The Mexican army has violated the border any number of times this year alone.
Theres' your causus bella right there. It takes two to fight a war, it only takes one to roll over and surrender.
Good shoot - the rock throwers were, in substance, facilitating the drowning of the runner. The shoot was in aid of his rescue.
Just my 2 cents....

 

[fourays2]

GWB needs to be impeached over his handling of the mexican invasion.

 

[Biker]

It's time. Any Americans present at that event who did nothing should be ashamed and stripped of their citizenship, cops included. If your Flag means nothing more than that and you allow a foreign flag to fly in its place, get out of my country. End of story...

Biker

 

[longeyes]

The War started a long time ago. The unassimilated illegal aliens merely constitute the southern front.

 

[freedom and guns]

I agree with bowline. The thing people should learn from this is DON'T THROW ROCKS AT MEN BETTER ARMED THAN YOURSELF. Especially those that are LEO's trying to save someone's life. That should have been obvious. Never get between them and a man in need.

 

[Thefabulousfink]

NevJohn
Where was the Postmaster? I seem to recall an anecdote about the War of 1812. The Capitol was burned by the British and the only reason that the Post Office was spared was because the Post Master General met the British on the steps with a blunderbuss.

The story may or may not be true, but the fact of the matter is that the Flag and flag pole are Government Property and if I worked there I would have marched out, retrived the flag, and cut the line on the flag pole to prevent it from being used in such a way. If I was assaulted, so be it. Mabey then the police would step in and do their jobs. I am not above risking bodily injury to see that what is right gets done.

 

[freedom and guns]

'Fink

America needs more people like you.

 

[Desertdog]

That's not to say I agree with setting up water stations in the desert,

I think the BP should put water stations in the desert with cameras, motion detectors, emergency alert box, and silent automatic notifacation of authorities if they don't use the emergency button. That would be a great life saver.

 

[Vitamin G]

B) Don't bring a rock to a gunfight.

Somewhere, there's a small army of palestinian children thinking to themselves, "Why not?"

 

[xd9fan]

About freaking time.

big time. Bout time we start grabbin the boot that continues to kick us in the head.

To bad the current GOP is not with "we the people" on this illegal invasion.

 

[STAGE 2]

as it seems possible Civil War will break out again, 150 years after the first.

Nope, can't be a civil war since the hispanic trash that continues to illegally enter the country aren't citizens.

As for the altercation, great shoot. Maybe just maybe if everytime the BP was assaulted and responded with deadly force these wretched excuses for human beings wouldn't take to crossing with such a cavalier attitude.

 

[crazed_ss]

You guys are comical. I bet you'd be flipping out and screaming for an all-out invasion of Mexican if Mexican authorities had fired a shot accross the border and killed an American.

 

[crazed_ss]

Nope, can't be a civil war since the hispanic trash that continues to illegally enter the country aren't citizens.

As for the altercation, great shoot. Maybe just maybe if everytime the BP was assaulted and responded with deadly force these wretched excuses for human beings wouldn't take to crossing with such a cavalier attitude.

Here's the problem with your thinking.

Not everyone here thinks Hispanics are trash and wretched excuses for human beings. Many Americans (in the southwest at least) would disagree with you. Many of these Americans own guns.