A Border Patrol agent from Fort Hancock was shot in the leg about 4:20 p.m. Saturday by someone on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande while agents were pursuing smugglers 27 miles southeast of the Ysleta Port of Entry, Border Patrol officials said.
The female agent, whose name was not released, was expected to be released Saturday night from Thomason Hospital, El Paso Border Patrol spokesman Doug Mosier said.
The shooting took place after smugglers in a pickup "carrying at least 500 pounds of marijuana" were spotted, he said.
A pursuit began "and the smugglers drove their vehicle into the water and fled into Mexico on foot."
Even though the smugglers reached the safety of Mexico, Mosier said, "apparently a number of assailants were waiting on the Mexico side, and a sustained barrage of gunfire occurred."
The agent was struck by a bullet that penetrated the vehicle, he said. Agents returned fire.
This was thought to be the first shooting of an El Paso sector Border Patrol agent in about 13 years.
On Sept. 12, two El Paso FBI agents were severely beaten by train bandits during a sting operation in the Sunland Park-Anapra area.
Posted by Suzanne at October 13, 2002