Border Patrol: Agent fires shots after rock attack in Brownsville

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — U.S. Border Patrol agents opened fire Saturday along the Rio Grande after being pelted by rocks and having a gunman point a weapon in their direction on the Mexican side of the river, an agency spokesman said.

Spokesman Henry Mendiola said no Border Patrol agents were injured in the incident Saturday near Brownsville. He did not know if anyone else was hurt. He said the Mexican government had been notified and was responding to the area. The FBI also was investigating.

The Border Patrol released little details about the morning gunfire, including what the suspects were doing on the river.

Mendiola said several people had been taken into custody but that he could not provide details about the suspects or charges they face.

One of the agents started shooting after being “unable to take cover” when rocks were thrown, while the other opened fire after seeing a suspect on the Mexican side of the river pointing a gun at him, Mendiola said.

He added that as rocks were thrown, “at least one of the agents feared for his life.”

U.S. lawmen opening fire along the Texas border is not routine, but Saturday was the latest in several such incidents in the past year.

Border Patrol agents seizing 4,000 pounds of marijuana in March near Roma got into a shootout with drug smugglers. In that incident, it also was not known whether anyone on the Mexican side had been hit.

Last summer, authorities said Border Patrol agents and Rangers with the Texas Department of Public Safety exchanged about 300 rounds of gunfire with suspected drug smugglers. Officials said the suspects threw rocks at U.S. lawmen in that incident, too.

In 2010, a Border Patrol agent in El Paso shot and killed a 15-year-old Mexican boy across the Rio Grande. Investigators say the agent fired after being attacked by people throwing rocks.

In December, a Border Patrol agent fired his service weapon at several alleged drug smugglers who were throwing rocks at him and another agent also in Brownsville.

This incident happened near the B&M International Bridge.

The agents were patrolling when they encountered several people who appeared to be carrying bundles of marijuana, authorities said.

When the agents confronted the individuals, they began throwing rocks at the agents.

A Border Patrol spokeswoman addressing the incident said the agents fired his weapon in order to defend himself and a fellow agent. The agents were not injured.

The agents recovered more than 13 pounds of marijuana that was left behind.

Brownsville Herald reporter Laura B. Martinez contributed to this report.