Friendly fire killed Border Patrol agent, sources tell NBC News

Sources have told NBC news that the shooting at the Mexico border near Naco, Ariz., that killed border patrol agent Nicolas Ivie and wounded two others involved friendly fire. NBC's Mark Potter reports.

Updated at 7:30 p.m. ET: Investigators are preparing to announce that the death of Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Ivie in Arizona earlier this week was the result of friendly fire -- accidental gunfire from another agent who responded to the same scene, state and federal officials told NBC News on Friday.

The conclusion is based on an analysis of the ballistics, the lack of evidence of other criminals in the area at the time, and other factors, the sources said.

The FBI released a statement later on Friday confirming that preliminary evidence showed friendly fire was to blame in the shootings.


"While it is important to emphasize that the FBI's investigation is actively continuing, there are strong preliminary indications that the death of United States Border Patrol Agent Nicholas J. Ivie and the injury to a second agent was the result of an accidental shooting incident involving only the agents," said James L. Turgal Jr., FBI spokesman, in a statement to NBC News. "At the appropriate time further information will be provided, but while the investigation continues it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time."

The incident involving Ivie and two other agents occurred Tuesday in a rugged area about five miles north of the US-Mexico border near Bisbee, Ariz. The agents had responded to an alarm from a sensor that tracks illegal movement along the border.

Gary M. Williams / AP

Christy Ivie, center, wife of Nicholas Ivie, holds back tears as she is surrounded by her father, Tracy Morris, and mother, DeAnn Morris, left, and her sister, Jan Cloward, and brother, Travis Morris, right, during a news conference on Tuesday.

Ivie was killed. A second agent was wounded and was released from the hospital after undergoing surgery. The third agent was unharmed.

State and federal officials said immediately after the incident that the shootings were committed by armed criminals.  And since then, Mexican authorities have said they arrested two men in Agua Prieta, northern Sonora state, a few miles from where the shooting occurred.

Pete Williams is NBC News' chief justice correspondent.

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More lies from the liberal retarded MSNBC.

MSN is covering up another murder for Obama and company.

Get the real story from Mexico.

  • 1 vote
Reply#53 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:34 PM EDT

tea billy moron

  • 4 votes
#53.1 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:37 PM EDT

leftward bound clown.

How dumbed down are you?

  • 2 votes
#53.2 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:43 PM EDT
Reply

What is really frustrating is that the media fails to report on what is really happening down here in Arizona!! The liberal media did not show the letter or training film that was sent from Homeland Security to our Border agents a few months ago notifying them to not engage with the border crossers - to run and hide. The border patrol union was outraged and a copy was posted in the newspaper. We have no protection down here, thanks to our government - and it's getting worse everyday. The government has turned their backs on this State!!!

    Reply#54 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:37 PM EDT

    You could end the War on Drugs. However you're delusional if you think this will lower the crime committed by Coyotes. Money is money. They'll just substitute people for weed. They're already doing that now. Often times abandoning the Illegals in the middle of the desert without water or protection from the elements. I suspect there are more skeletons out there then will ever be counted.

    We can close the Southern Border. It's called, "will power". We have the technology just not the stomach to do it.

    On another note this article claims all three were on Horseback? If so how could they mistake each other for the bad guy? Has anyone heard of the Drug Cartel using horses to smuggle drugs? Sad a Border Agent died and hopefully more information will bring to light exactly what caused this tragedy.

    POTUS has cut back the number of Border Agents and this puts more of a load on those remaining to guard our borders. So yes he is accountable for any and all Deaths involving any Federal employee.

    • 2 votes
    Reply#55 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:37 PM EDT

    What kind of dark souled son of a bitch participates in that kind of activity?

    • 1 vote
    #55.1 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:40 PM EDT

    Obama participates in that kind of activity.

    • 2 votes
    #55.2 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:46 PM EDT

    You incredibly low IQ impresses no one... jeffy.

      #55.3 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:56 PM EDT

      leftward,

      could you be more specific. What kind of activity are you talking about?

      • 1 vote
      #55.4 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 6:15 PM EDT
      Reply

      Damn it!! These guys either need to go back to field tactics school, or the BP should only hire combat vets for their tactical teams. Brian Terry was so trained and qualified, but they gave him RUBBER BULLETS to fight auto AK's with. WTF IS WRONG WITH BP & ICE, ANYHOW??!! Damn Janet Napolitano for f*cking up this agency and putting these agents in jeopardy. The Bitch!!!

      • 3 votes
      Reply#56 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:38 PM EDT

      I'm going to hold judgement on the officers actions and the ROI, until more details are released, however.......This was a totally preventable incident, it's time for the Border Partrol to update to Military hardware. The Stryker Brigade used a man portable system that, gives you complete situational awareness. Of where you are and where your fellow (in this case) your fellow officers are. It is displayed thru an eye piece, connected to your helmut.

      This system WOULD have saved this Border Patrol agents life.

      • 1 vote
      Reply#57 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:38 PM EDT

      What is this BS. Get your stories straight, then let us know what REALLY happened because this one doesn`t quite cut it. BS I say

      • 2 votes
      Reply#58 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:38 PM EDT

      How is it then that Mexico reported yesterday catching two people that killed the border guard? Something isn't right here.

      • 2 votes
      Reply#59 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:39 PM EDT

      This is an outright lie. Our government is once again trying to cover their asses. I would bet $1M that they were shot by the cartels, but our government is covering this up. The reelection of Obama would be at stake.

      I can remember 40+ years ago this kind of crap didn't happen.

      The U.S.A. had money.

      The U.S.A. had jobs.

      The U.S.A. wasn't inundated with illegal aliens breaking the back of our country.

      Now look, it's like we don't even have a border.

      Our government might as well erase the border because Mexico has taken us over.

      Mexico can't and doesn't want to take care of its own people so they've been telling them to come here for 40+ years.

      Now we are AMEXICO.

      Welcome to the third world country the good ol U.S.A. broke because of the freeloaders!

      Also, don't bother carrying any guns, because all of the illegal aliens have them. You wouldn't stand a chance.

      Their guns are better than our guns because the U.S.A. has supplied them!

      GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE, WE ARE GOING TO NEED IT WHEN THE 2ND GREAT DEPRESSION HITS US

      • 1 vote
      Reply#60 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:39 PM EDT

      angry, hate filled and incredibly ignorant.... people that think like you are rotting the soul of this country!

      • 4 votes
      #60.1 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:42 PM EDT

      leftward bound

      What's your problem? Debi is 100%right.

      • 1 vote
      #60.2 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:52 PM EDT

      The left wing lunatics like you are ruining the USA leftward bound dumbed down clown.

      • 1 vote
      #60.3 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:52 PM EDT

      Johnny and pot bellied parks are both tea billy hacks... todays GOP... the party of fear, smear... but most of all misinformation... morons... plain and simple. Both minds... contribute to the rotting of the soul of our country and both probably call themselves Christians.... " Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren. that you do to me......"

      • 2 votes
      #60.4 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:55 PM EDT

      leftward

      I never said I was a Christian, and I don't need to be a Christian to be right.

      Debi is still right and there are a lot of moderate dems who would agree.

      On one of your posts you cry about our POS POTUS being called Odumba, yet you have no problem calling people you don't agree with names.

        #60.5 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 8:37 PM EDT
        Reply

        Ever notice how these law enforcement outfits are getting worse and not better? We had those New Yorks cops shooting up the people they are supposed to protect from 12 feet away from the guy they were shooting at and now this. Pretty amazing. I would feel safer in a fire fight in Vietnam at least I had my buddys covering my back.

        • 3 votes
        Reply#61 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:39 PM EDT

        For all the a$$holes still trying to blame Obama for this tradegy, F_U_C_K you. I hope your next of kin experiences a friendly fire loss very, very soon.

        • 2 votes
        Reply#62 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:40 PM EDT

        Republicans....small minds think alike.....low down scumbags.....lying SOB's......Romney, Ryan, Palin, Bachmann, Todd Akin, George W. Bush, Donald Trump, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich, Carl Rove........Super PAC's.......

        • 2 votes
        #62.1 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:52 PM EDT

        You are a POS. Next time you're sucking Odumbas richard make sure you bite it off.

        Godbless

        The hate filled comment above yours that you replied to is from a another Lib, you once again show who really has a small mind.

        • 2 votes
        #62.2 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:55 PM EDT

        High class talk there... johnny boy.

        • 1 vote
        #62.3 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 6:05 PM EDT
        Reply

        its odumbos fault

        • 1 vote
        Reply#63 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:41 PM EDT

        @td49 - you are sooo right! So is the drought, the wind, the crappy sub you ate last night, and the broken street light on the corner of 53rd & 3rd.

        • 2 votes
        #63.1 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:44 PM EDT

        and don't forget both of TD's little brains... that should certainly be Obamas fault too.

        • 2 votes
        #63.2 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:46 PM EDT
        Reply

        Also in Arizona, oceanfront lots for sale on the cheap....contact Eric Holder for details.

        • 3 votes
        Reply#64 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:41 PM EDT

        I wonder how many poor souls are murdered by the border patrols. Obviously they just shoot first and ask questions later.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#65 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:41 PM EDT

        Yes, they do.

        • 2 votes
        #65.1 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:43 PM EDT

        man you got some nerve on you.

          #65.2 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:44 PM EDT

          Nikki

          Not enough, as long as they're Latinos here illegally.

            #65.3 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:47 PM EDT

            Johnny, the Christian.

              #65.4 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:52 PM EDT
              Reply

              Investigators are preparing to announce that the death of Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Ivie in Arizona earlier this week was the result of friendly fire -- accidental gunfire from another agent who responded to the same scene

              Oh now it's our fault after all. Well, apologies to our friends to the south who had 'nothing' to do with it. Or, maybe this is just a convenient reason being given since we don't want to strain relations with the Latinos whose votes are needed

              • 1 vote
              Reply#66 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:42 PM EDT

              Mexicans=Bidens story; Friendly Fire=Obamas` story: Sounds like the same kind of crap that comes out of this administration concerning ANYTHING All BS that only fools=liberals; Believe

              • 1 vote
              Reply#67 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:42 PM EDT

              The one thing common with this shooting and Agent Terry's murder (remember him) is that they were both shot with government issued weapons.

              • 2 votes
              Reply#68 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:42 PM EDT

              I have to say that the gun culture consuming America is more of a problem than all the alcohol and drugs combined. People shooting each other on a daily basis, kids shooting teachers and other kids, army officers killing their peers, law enforcement sometimes shooting and killing people when it was not necessary. Where does this mess end? Folks, it's time to admit the USA is addicted to guns in a very big way and the result is a disaster. And yes, I agree that 'guns don't kill people, people kill people'. But if I carried a deadly disease around with me then the goal would be to get rid of the disease so I would not hurt anyone else. It's time to get rid of the gun disease in this country.

                Reply#69 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:44 PM EDT

                who ever chuck is he sure is one blinded odumbo follower, sure can't think for himself, pity pity pity

                • 1 vote
                Reply#70 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:44 PM EDT

                every time you post odumbo... you show everyone just how incredibly stupid you are.

                • 1 vote
                #70.1 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:48 PM EDT

                odumbo and leftward bound dumbed down clown belong in a class by themselves.

                The Odumbo School of Fools.

                • 1 vote
                #70.2 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:56 PM EDT

                Jeffy your IQ score of 2 1/2 points impresses no one... contribute something besides you big pot bellied picture.

                • 1 vote
                #70.3 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 6:00 PM EDT
                Reply

                I mean,...how the coyotes pay???....by check or cash ???,.....or you are telling me that those few ignorant half a meter Mexicans are crossing deceiving all the first line technology on detecting devices as radars, motion detectors, GPS, Satellite surveillance and who knows what, an a super team of cow boys patrolling on the territory where they were born are unable to arrest those few ignorant little people????....Too hard to swallow,....too hard......

                  Reply#71 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:44 PM EDT

                  Why would they stop tring. If they get caught they get feed an flown back home. If they make it, we will either give them a job or food stamps.

                    #71.1 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:49 PM EDT
                    Reply

                    A renewed code of conduct must be implemented immediately for the Border Patrol to avoid these atrocious tragedy in the future.......my sincere condolences to the bereaved family may God comfort their hearts.

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#72 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:46 PM EDT

                    Ok, so once again people are either going to get lost in another confusion distraction ploy until the story goes away, or come to their senses for once and say looks like a duck, quacks like a duck...

                    These border agents are all very highly trained. They are under orders to only fire their weapons as an absolute last resort. They are actually supposed to throw rocks and run before firing... that is not just a line, it was an actual directive. How many border stories have you read in years about shootings? Do you really believe all these trained and experienced border agents showed up at a sensor at the same time and just started shooting at each other? And not one but two agents were shot before they stopped. Wake up and get real people. And yes the President is responsible for this and Fast and Furious.... he is the President... he is always responsible as the president should be. Now for his post debate cover lie here, another bunch of poor family members will have to live in wonder forever... Sad. Just sad.

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#73 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:46 PM EDT

                    My condolences to his family. Very sad story.

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#74 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:46 PM EDT

                    I thought they already arrested 2 men in Mexico. It was probably another one of those rifles that walked across the border and the are throwing the blame on people.

                      Reply#75 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:46 PM EDT

                      This is a shame. These things are bound to happen, unfortunately. Even trained police and military personnel make these mistakes. Good reason why I heavily armed populace in public places isn't such a great idea.

                        Reply#76 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:48 PM EDT

                        This is BS. this corrupt organization is just trying to cover their stinking behinds. probably guns from fast and furious were used. don't know, but can only say, it wouldn't surprise me. can't trust this corrupt and immoral group in control at the moment.

                        • 1 vote
                        Reply#77 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:48 PM EDT

                        There is nothing resembly "light" in you or your post.... not even a little.... just another tea billy hack...

                        • 1 vote
                        #77.1 - Fri Oct 5, 2012 5:49 PM EDT
                        Reply
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