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Subscribe to RSSSources 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.
Investigators say that the Border Patrol shooting that left one agent dead was likely the result of three agents all responding separately to a tripped sensor on the U.S.-Mexico border, and unknowingly shooting at one another in the dark, according to several reports.
The reports offer more detail on how Tuesday's incident unfolded. Agent Nicholas J. Ivie, 33, was killed and a second agent was wounded in a rugged area known for drug and human smuggling.
According to Cochise County acting Sheriff Rod Rothrock, the three agents were patrolling on horseback along several miles of the U.S.-Mexico border when all responded to the tripped sensor.
George McCubbin, president of the National Border Patrol Council, a union representing agents, said all three agents fired their weapons.
McCubbin told The Arizona Republic that the agents had split up as they investigated the sensor alarm. In the darkness between 1 and 2 a.m., the three converged from different directions into a saddle in the hills where the brush is relatively thick, Saturday’s Los Angeles Times reported, citing McCubbin.
Gabriel Guerrero / AP file
Law enforcement forces gather at a command post in the desert near Naco, Ariz. Tuesday after a border patrol agent was shot to death near the U.S.-Mexico line.
The agents had been in communication earlier, and were aware of each other’s presence in the area, according to Rothrock. It was not clear why they didn’t talk when converging on the target area.
McCubbin told the Times, "Maybe they tried to reach each other but couldn’t. They have lots of dead spots in the desert."
Ivie was about 20 yards away from the other two agents when they apparently spotted each other, and started trading fire.
Ivie "interpreted defensive postures from the other as aggressive postures," Rothrock said.
Cole Kynaston / AP
Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Ivie, who was was shot and killed in a rugged border area on Tuesday, in an undated photo.
In the exchange of fire, Ivie was killed, and a second agent whose name has not been released was shot in the buttocks and the ankle. He was treated and is reportedly recovering at home. A third agent, who also remains unnamed, was unharmed.
A high-powered rifle and a handgun were found near the shooting scene, the Times reported, citing government documents. It was not clear whether they were connected to the incident.
State and federal officials initially said that the shootings were committed by armed criminals.
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Leave a Comment:
When the shooting starts anything can happen. Especially in the dark.
Perhaps they should be equipped with better communication equipment and night vision apparatus. Those of you whom are conspiracy theorists are welcome to go for an early morning walk on the border. Idiots.
Perhaps nbcnews should get the facts first then report. Start of the article says "LIKELY" not definitively.
"Investigators say "likely". When you get the real facts, then make the report. LIKELY, doesn't work for the family of the deceased BP agent or for the American people. We want the truth and just the truth. Get the facts.
Why shouldn't they release some of the initial reports? They had to give a reason for stopping the manhunt for assailant(s) that apparently don't exist.
Yes, this breaks my heart too, especially since I'm sure there will be those who will blame the agents for this, when if you really come right down to this--this is ABSOLUTELY the result of us NOT having a fence, WELL built, well armed, not just with soldiers/guards, but with EVERY bell and whistle electronically that we have the technology for, and that fence should be two layers, with a no man's land in between that is kept vegetation free to stop providing hiding places for those who violate our borders.
And while I'm not holding Bush, Clinton, Bush I, or Reagan innocent of this, the fact is that Obama has, instead of doing as he promised in NOT being "like Bush" pandered EVEN more to the Hispanics who want the US to allow ALL the Hispanics who want to to come here illegally, and not only to allow that, but to give them rights, benefits and priveledges they are NOT entitled to.
Remember when you read this story--it ALL STARTED when SOMEONE tripped the surveillance sensors. And EVERY BP agent who goes out in the dead of night to try to enforce our laws puts their life in danger when they do so.
And just as when, during a bank robbery, if someone is killed, the GETAWAY driver is EQUALLY guilty of that murder as if he had BEEN in the bank and pulled the trigger, EVERY illegal who sneaks across our border bears some of the blame for one man being dead, one being wounded, and another being traumatized at both.
Truly sorry for his mans loved ones.
Lock and load baby... wonder how many "innocents" have been shot and died, we don't know about....
All choices big and small have consequences.
I am a full time prospector! I live in three points AZ and work the desert around where this happened! I run across boarder patrol all the time. Just last Friday we were coming out of the desert and saw two agents suiting up. They did not even notice us,so we announced ourselves! I was armed with a Remington 870 express! They asked if I had one in the chamber and I said yes! The agent then replied keep it that way and be careful it is dope season! Most of the agents I run across are really young with no military background or previous law enforcement training! Most of them are not even from places like Arizona and here lots of stories that get the mind wandering! Most people crossing are just trying to get to the U.S. and are not armed! The ones that are carrying drugs are usually not armed! The cartel will put out spotters which hide at high points to watch the mules and guide them! The spotters will be armed and try to protect a load! But usually will not shoot at law enforcement! Just people trying to rob a load! I have talked with many agents and this is what I gather! I have no idea what lead to this but it will make me Leary!!
Really? You want to blame some dirt poor, starving Mexican who's trying cross the desert so he might be able to keep his family from starving to death for some Border Patrol agents killing each other over dope money?
Why doesn't the "poor, starving Mexican" try to enter the country LEGALLY instead of committing a CRIME by sneaking in??
The exclamation key on your keyboard is stuck. You should get that fixed, lest people think you don't know how to use it correctly.
Perhaps,
Ballistics were tested and came back as Fast and Furious weapons. FBI documented the weapons FF. The Justice Department saw FF and came up with Friendly Fire. Can't have the death of a brave border patrol agent, injury of another agent. mess up an election.
Just a thought, not a theory. Our Government would never try to cover-up embarrassments.
Or maybe, it was Willard and his Mormon Mafia smuggling some of his father's family across the border!
Just a thought, not a theory.
Today on this same front page, I clicked on a repert that the Mexican Police in Agua Prieta, Mexico, on the border, had captured 2 individuals connected with this shooting.....
Also, some commenters on this story were commenting about the unsafe conditions when shooting in the "dark of night'. Last week when this shooting took place, we had clear skies and a full moon or very close to it. I live in Arizona, and when we have full moons, you almost need shades when you're out in it. Visibility is reduced about 25-30%, and that's pretty bright, IMO.
This story about friendly fire reeks of a cover up. It's out there to sway opinion away from the real cause. I can't say what really happened because I wasn't there as every one of you whom has already made your comments.
My condolences to the families, and I sincerely hope they go after the truth instead of this story..... Jerry (in Tucson)
OK ya'll...git yer guns an' git out and shoot anything that moves...messicun 'er not. Stupid rednecks...you're too @!$%#ing funny.
and you're just sad. but you're a cheesehead so it's expected. now, step away from the keyboard and go to bed.
ding dong dilly dally. what happened to run and hide when confronted? Seriously, all three know the situation, all three know each other is in the area, all three know they are going to the same location, and all three shoot at each other.
I just can't understand how that could happen. They can't be that stupid. I think there needs to be an investigation on all three backgrounds of these agents. Make sure this was not intentional.
Wold not be the first time someone was TARGETED by their comrades. Not saying that is the case here but worth looking into.
Guns don't kill people. Pigs kill people.
What? corruption on both sides of the border? how likely is that!
I live in Tucson, AZ, 65 miles north of the Mexican border. I have a 40 acre ranch 20 miles outside the city limits. I spend 2 hours every Saturday with trash bags picking up all the crap left on MY PROPERTY left by illegals trying to get to Tucson. Dirty diapers, shoes, clothes, beer cans (why you'd drag beer through the desert is beyone me) and mostly, back packs which were used to transport the drugs brought into this country. I've seen groups of 20, 30 illegals just walking down the road. Don't bother calling the border patrol, they can only do so much. Wake up, people! We're being invaded!
Or maybe, these guys (like most of the Border Patrol) are on the take and were fighting over drug money! The only solution to this bull@!$%# is to end 'Prohibition'.
I have never seen so many bad policemen trained or border patrol. Rookies are what they are giving their life for a job that they are not professionally trained for or these kinds of incidences wouldn't happen. It's all a rush job to fill up a list of low paying jobs without the need for more professionalism. Police killing people in wheel chairs & border patrols killing each other. It's a fiasco. I put all the blame on this Republican Party & not using Obama as a kick dog for everything gone wrong. It's all about cutbacks & money. I would throw Bush Jr on horseback without a saddle & make him live on the border for being the most lousiest snake in the grass piece of dung!
I'm questioning the "totally dark" comments between 1 and 2 AM. Didn't we just have a full moon? Somebody, please shed some light on this.......
According to the below moon phase listing Friday the 5th would have been a little over a half moon. So assuming their was no cloud cover there would have been some light.
http://stardate.org/nightsky/moon
Yes the moon was bright. even a full moon casts shadows though and there are dark places to hide from view. The border agents know this however and work in this every day. They do not go out and shoot each other because it's dark. to say they were unfamiliar with after dark operations is ridiculous.
I cannot see your comment section
The officers were responding to an alarm from a sensor used to detect ILLEGAL activity. "A high-powered rifle and a handgun were found near the shooting scene...", apparently not belonging to one of the officers. I can't believe folks are attacking the Border Patrol for trying to do their job which, by the way, YOU pay them to do.
mexican workers have been crossing the border for decades without shooting at anyone. it is the pointless war on drugs that caused this shooting. it is a sad situation that we now apparently shoot anything that moves to protect our citizens from smoking pot. what kind of message does this send to the entire world watching us? we need to be looking at the policy behind this loss or any loss of life on the border. Are we now the USSR? A Berlin wall mentality? Please leave politics out of this before all the facts are out , will they ever come out? by whom to whom? my sincere condolence to the agents family.
Whew. Finally some probable answers with details of probable details. After three weeks the WH, AG, and FBI all independently determine what probably happened and send the union leader out to give the news. Ok, so these border agents rolled up to the site seperate, yet they got together and took up positions, then started shooting at each other in the darkness because the other agents were down in defensive positions which confused them. And the Mexicans who were snatched up immediately after the incident after the Mexican authorities were given location and description information out of the darkness by the border agents that were shooting at each other, those Mexicans were released to the unknown and the weapons they had disappeared. And none of these agents who took part in the shooting knew what had happened that night until the FBI got approval from the AG who got approval from the WH to allow the union leader to make a statement of strange details which lead up to the still probable cause. Case now closed and forgotten. Na, no cover up there. I smell fast and furious guns being hidden away. No, this seems to be a very probable scenario they have come up with. Now we can get on to completely opening the borders and taking the weapons away from the border agents so this sort of thing never happens again.....
Too many guns in the hands of too many people who lack sufficient common sense to handle a weapon.
I guess ballistic tests are somehow ... for whatever reason 'out of the question' Although it seems easy enough to match bullet to gun if it was 'friendly fire.' Would love to hear the investigators' answer about ballistics.
gunner, I had the same question and about 50 more. But the union leader has issued an official "likely" approved scenario of what "probably" happened that night. Case closed. I watched Geraldo tonight as his show was given an official tour of the scene two miles from the scene and the official likely story by the union leader guy and two of his union official ex agents. I am so disappointed in Geraldo... in the old days he would have asked the questions that needed to be asked, now he just goes with the flow, although I know Geraldo does have opinions against immigration laws so I suppose he is not going to point fingers at this one. You would think that after any shooting the very first thing the agents would have had to do was give an official account of all the activities that led up to and during the shooting. Yet what we get are probable, likely ideas of what might have happened that night. Tonight in the "tour" they showed some head high grass two miles away that you could not see 6 inches in front of you in during the day much less at night which was two miles from the scene but was supposed to be the same as at the scene. They also said that the agent who was killed was coming from one direction to flush out the criminals into the other two agents who were in the grass waiting in defensive positions... which I would think would mean being down close to the ground as they were in this thick head high grass in the middle of the night with no other cover. They also stated that the shooting took place with the agent who was killed and doing the flushing was 20 yards away in the head high thick grass. They also said that this agent mistook the two agents facing him down in the thick head high grass in the night in their defensive positions. Looking at that grass in the day as was shown during the tour, you couldn't see six inches during the day much less at night. Now, the two agents in defensive positions know that the other agent is coming through the grass from the opposite direction. If it was all friendly fire and there were no criminals, then one of the agents must have fired the first round through the grass. No one has said who or why. Anyone who has ever been in the military or law enforcement knows that if you have a good defensive position and the enemy/bad guys don't know you are there, you have a complete advantage and you are going to have no need to fire unless fired on by the bad guys. Unless you are ambushing someone which I doubt the border patrol was out there doing. In all, through this thick grass that you couldn't see six inches in front of you during the day, and with all the agents knowing what the others were doing, someone just started shooting into the grass for an unknown reason... there had to be a first shot somewhere. So, after the rounds started popping off unless they were equipped with night vision, there would have been no aiming... they would have been firing as much as possible in a general direction through the thick grass while either advancing or moving to better cover. I don't know what kind of weapons they had, but I am pretty sure they weren't automatic. So they were randomly firing single shots into the grass in a general direction knowing that the other agent was out there coming from the opposite direction. Somehow they kill the the lone agent. But more strange is that one of the other two agents together is hit in the buttock and the back of his leg which means that he must have been turned away from the agent who was killed when he was hit. But then the union leader confuses these strange facts by showing that the whole landscape may have been different on a small mountainside in the base of a saddle. I am kind of sure that head high thick grass does not grow on the sides of mountains. And if this was the case, the oncoming agents outline would have been visible and there would have been no reason not to identify each other. Then there is the question as to why the Mexican authorities were notified where the criminals would be coming over the border at and their descriptions which enabled the Mexican authorities to immediately find and detain the suspects, who later just kind of went away along with the weapons they had. Just questions which I guess didn't need to be answered at all now that the likely cause has been explained fully. Case closed. I don't know how the border patrol is trained, but I know if they were military combat soldiers the whole team would have immediately dropped after the first round and opened up. And with no cover and only concealment there would have been nothing but low crawl going on. Getting shot in the buttock and back of the leg would have been very unlikely. Sorry.
I was just thinking and rambling. I am sure they have done a good investigation with statements and all. It just tricks my curiosity when someone gives a detail probable accounting without explaining how they were able to rule out certain obvious points of concern. You all are right though in that whatever happened the whole thing is just tragic and very sad.
Trained professionals? Friendly fire? Radio dead zones in a desert located in the United States? BS. Our soldiers in Iraq, in the mountains of Afghanistan do not have dead zones. That is BS. This sounds just like the Stevens murder in Lybia.
Friendly fire my @ss. this is just another cover-up by this administration. Anyone who believes that BS is the problem. I happen to live in that border state and these border patrol agents are very well trained in what they do. It's the federal government who allows these thugs to enter the country. remember that idiot in the WH is a socialist, communist and he loves to work along side of the enemy. He owrries no more about the American people then worries about his brother in Kenya. Get a life people and stop drinking that toxic koo-aid. It's affecting your brain into stupid.