A 23-year-old U.S. citizen is dead after allegedly engaging U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in a shootout. The exchange of gunfire occurred after the driver refused to stop at the international border crossing between Tijuana and California.
Officials with CBP report that the male driver of a white pickup truck refused to stop at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. The man reportedly drove through the inspection area until a vehicle blocked his progress, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The man then allegedly opened fire on the officers. Seven CBP officers returned fire, killing the “suspect.”
“The suspect began firing a gun out of his vehicle toward the officers, then exited his vehicle and continued firing at the officers,” San Diego Police Department Lt. Matt Dobbs told the local newspaper. “The officers returned fire, striking the suspect.”
Despite efforts by CBP officers to save the shooter, he died at the scene from his wounds.
Multiple gunshots can be heard in this video tweeted by Esteban Gerado (@gerado301986):
Shooting at the south border at San Ysidro San Diego-Tijuana. Thank you to all the agents that took care of all of us trapped during the shooting. #sandiegotijuana #southborder #mexico pic.twitter.com/gdmUymbtaX
— Esteban Gerardo (@gerardo301986) June 4, 2019
In an official statement, CBP officials said that the incident is being investigated by other law enforcement agencies and that CBP will conduct an internal review of the matter. Both the vehicle and pedestrian lanes of the port of entry were closed for about 30 minutes, officials stated. The westbound vehicle egress lanes to exit the port of entry remained closed for some period to allow for the investigation to be completed. Officials said there was no impact on southbound traffic for vehicles or pedestrians.
No motive for the shooting has been released by law enforcement. The name of the U.S. citizen killed in the shootout with CBP officers is being held pending notification of family.
A spokesman for the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents CBP officers, issued a statement stating that “all officers are safe and uninjured.”
Witnesses to the shooting said it sounded like fireworks, the San Diego Sun-Sentinel reported. “I heard from 15 to 20 shots,” Juan, a San Diego resident who was crossing back into the U.S. from Tijuana told the local newspaper.
The San Diego Police Department homicide division is investigating the shooting.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for the Breitbart Border team. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and Face
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.