Federal investigation closes border crossing point in southern Arizona
Sep 8, 2016, 3:56 PM | Updated: Sep 9, 2016, 11:22 am
(Twitter Photo/NogalesPD_PIO)
(Twitter Photo/NogalesPD_PIO)
PHOENIX — A federal investigation closed a border crossing point between southern Arizona and Mexico on Thursday.
Sgt. Robert Fierros with the Nogales Police Department sent several tweets that said no cars were being allowed to exit the United States into Mexico from the Mariposa Port of Entry, located on State Route 189.
#Nogales PD routing traffic away from Mariposa Port of Entry due to incident being investigated by Feds. Avoid area pic.twitter.com/vpknZT89N6
— Sgt. Robert Fierros (@NogalesPD_PIO) September 8, 2016
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection sent out a statement that said their officers and a U.S. Border Patrol agent were involved in a shooting at around 2 p.m. while working at the Port of Nogales Mariposa Crossing.
“Initial reports indicate that a subject attempted to evade Border Patrol agents and, while driving south through the port, swerved his vehicle in an apparent attempt to hit officers working at the port,” the statement said. “OFO officers and a Border Patrol agent fired their service weapons at the driver. The driver sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was airlifted to a Tucson area hospital.”
The statement also said that there was another passenger in the vehicle who suffered non-life-threatening injuries and is currently in custody, while no officers or agents were injured in the incident.
#Mariposa Port of Entry will remain shut down for remainder of the day for SB traffic. Northbound traffic still OK pic.twitter.com/MEZqMpg5Lj
— Sgt. Robert Fierros (@NogalesPD_PIO) September 8, 2016
Fierros said the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol asked the Nogales Police Department to assist with securing the border.
Another photo tweeted out by Fierros appeared to show two trucks surrounded by police vehicles.
All SB traffic remains closed. Only NB traffic coming into U.S. is still OK… #Mariposa Port of Entry pic.twitter.com/NIl89Maz0O
— Sgt. Robert Fierros (@NogalesPD_PIO) September 8, 2016
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
