SAN DIEGO (CNS) - San Diego police Wednesday were investigating an officer-involved shooting in which a Border Patrol agent shot and killed a suspected border crosser who was allegedly throwing large rocks and wood with exposed nails at agents.
Police were called to assist a Border Patrol agent east of Dairy Mart Road, near the border fence line, shortly before 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to San Diego police homicide Lt. Ernie Herbert.
The agent had came upon three suspected border crossers and had initially called another Border Patrol agent for backup, Herbert said.
When the second agent arrived, they tried to arrest the suspects and two of them fled back into Mexico through an opening in the border fence, Herbert said, noting that the third began fighting with the agents while they were trying to arrest him.
During the struggle, one of the suspects who escaped through the fence, leaned over the top of it and began throwing large rocks and a large piece of wood with exposed nails at the agents, hitting one of them in the head, Herbert said.
As the suspect began to throw another large rock, the agent who initially called for backup fired his gun and fatally struck the suspect, who was still leaning over the fence, Herbert said.
The wounded suspect fell back into Mexico and died at the scene, Herbert said.
The agent who fired his gun is a three-year veteran of the agency. The other agent was injured and taken to a hospital, where he was treated and released, according to Herbert.
One suspected border crosser was arrested, Herbert said. His name and age were unavailable.
