Border Patrol shooting near US-Mexico border leaves suspect in critical condition
Arivaca: A man suspected of involvement in a smuggling operation was shot and critically wounded in a gunfire exchange with US Border Patrol agents near the US-Mexico border after allegedly firing at a federal helicopter, authorities said Tuesday.
Federal agents were attempting to apprehend the 34-year-old Arizona man near Arivaca when he opened fire on a Border Patrol helicopter and on agents on the ground, according to the FBI. Agents returned fire, striking the suspect, who was later transported to a hospital where he was recovering from surgery Tuesday evening, officials said.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said the FBI has requested it to lead a use-of-force investigation into the Border Patrol’s actions, noting such probes are standard procedure when a federal agency is involved in a shooting in the county.
Also read: India missing, China rising: What Trump’s defence blueprint reveals
FBI special agent Heith Janke identified the suspect as Patrick Gary Schlegel, saying he has a criminal history that includes a 2025 warrant for escape linked to a smuggling conviction. Janke added that Schlegel was in federal custody and is expected to be charged with a criminal complaint.
Arivaca, a small community roughly 10 miles from the border, is frequently used by drug smugglers and migrants who illegally cross into the United States, resulting in regular patrol activity in the area.
The Santa Rita Fire District responded to the incident and confirmed the wounded individual was in custody.
Also read: Why is Greg Bovino’s Nazi-styled coat causing outrage across America right now?
"Patient care was transferred to a local medical helicopter for rapid transport to a regional trauma centre," the fire district said.
One level-one trauma centre hospital in Tucson declined to release details on the patient’s condition, while another facility had yet to respond to requests for information.
The shooting adds to a series of recent incidents involving immigration enforcement officers. This month alone has seen three shootings, two of them fatal, tied to a large-scale Department of Homeland Security enforcement operation in Minnesota.
Unlike the Minnesota incidents, which were widely recorded by residents monitoring enforcement actions in the Minneapolis area, no bystander video has surfaced of the Arizona shooting, which occurred in a community of about 500 residents.
The sheriff’s department said its participation in the investigation stems from "long-standing relationships" built in the border region to promote transparency.
Sheriff Chris Nanos, a Democrat, has previously stated that his agency will not enforce federal immigration law amid President Donald Trump's crackdown, saying he will direct limited resources toward local crime and public safety concerns.
US Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to emails or phone calls seeking further information.
Border Patrol agents discharged their weapons in eight incidents during the 12 months through September 2025, compared with 14 incidents the previous year and 13 the year before that. AP