This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19854340
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| FBI: 'Friendly fire' concern over Nicholas Ivie death | FBI: 'Friendly fire' concern over Nicholas Ivie death |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A shooting near the US-Mexico border that saw a US border patrol agent shot dead may well have been a "friendly fire" incident, the FBI says. | A shooting near the US-Mexico border that saw a US border patrol agent shot dead may well have been a "friendly fire" incident, the FBI says. |
| The shooting near Naco, Arizona, on Tuesday left Agent Nicholas Ivie dead and another wounded. | The shooting near Naco, Arizona, on Tuesday left Agent Nicholas Ivie dead and another wounded. |
| He was killed after he and two other agents reportedly responded to a tripped ground sensor near the border. | He was killed after he and two other agents reportedly responded to a tripped ground sensor near the border. |
| Earlier reports did not indicate who was responsible, but two men were later held in Mexico over Ivie's death. | Earlier reports did not indicate who was responsible, but two men were later held in Mexico over Ivie's death. |
| His killing was first such incident since 2010, when a border agent's murder led to a review of a botched US-run cross-border gun-running operation. | His killing was first such incident since 2010, when a border agent's murder led to a review of a botched US-run cross-border gun-running operation. |
| 'Only the agents' | 'Only the agents' |
| The FBI gave few details other than to confirm it was investigating the death as "friendly fire". | The FBI gave few details other than to confirm it was investigating the death as "friendly fire". |
| "While it is important to emphasise that the FBI's investigation is actively continuing, there are strong preliminary indications that the death of United States Border Patrol Agent Nicholas J Ivie and the injury to a second agent was the result of an accidental shooting incident involving only the agents," FBI Special Agent in Charge James Turgal Jr said in a statement. | "While it is important to emphasise that the FBI's investigation is actively continuing, there are strong preliminary indications that the death of United States Border Patrol Agent Nicholas J Ivie and the injury to a second agent was the result of an accidental shooting incident involving only the agents," FBI Special Agent in Charge James Turgal Jr said in a statement. |
| Mr Turgal did not elaborate as to why the FBI came to this conclusion, adding only that "all necessary investigative, forensic and analytical resources" were being used in the investigation. | |
| After the shooting, officials said Ivie, 30, and a fellow unidentified agent, had been on foot about five miles (8km) north of the border, when gunshots rang out at around 02:00 local time (09:00 GMT). | After the shooting, officials said Ivie, 30, and a fellow unidentified agent, had been on foot about five miles (8km) north of the border, when gunshots rang out at around 02:00 local time (09:00 GMT). |
| A third agent, a woman, was with them but was unharmed in the attack. | A third agent, a woman, was with them but was unharmed in the attack. |
| Two suspects in Ivie's death were arrested during a Mexican military operation on Wednesday in Agua Prieta, in the northern state of Sonora, a Mexican official told the Reuters news agency. | Two suspects in Ivie's death were arrested during a Mexican military operation on Wednesday in Agua Prieta, in the northern state of Sonora, a Mexican official told the Reuters news agency. |
| A law enforcement official said it was not clear if strong evidence linked the men to the killing. | A law enforcement official said it was not clear if strong evidence linked the men to the killing. |
| There has been no update on their status since the FBI's statement on its probe. | There has been no update on their status since the FBI's statement on its probe. |
| Governor angry | Governor angry |
| Also on Friday, Arizona's Republican Governor Jan Brewer stood by criticism of the US federal government in remarks at a meeting of border governors in Albuquerque, New Mexico. | Also on Friday, Arizona's Republican Governor Jan Brewer stood by criticism of the US federal government in remarks at a meeting of border governors in Albuquerque, New Mexico. |
| "It's the federal government's responsibility to secure our border, and they need to do that, and then we can deal with all the other issues that have come about because our border hasn't been secured," Mrs Brewer said. | "It's the federal government's responsibility to secure our border, and they need to do that, and then we can deal with all the other issues that have come about because our border hasn't been secured," Mrs Brewer said. |
| Twenty-six US border agents have died in the line of duty since 2002. | Twenty-six US border agents have died in the line of duty since 2002. |
| The border patrol could not immediately comment on the frequency of friendly fire shootings at the agency, but such incidents appeared to be extremely rare, the Associated Press reported. | The border patrol could not immediately comment on the frequency of friendly fire shootings at the agency, but such incidents appeared to be extremely rare, the Associated Press reported. |
| The last agent to die on the border was Brian Terry, killed in a shootout with Mexican bandits in December 2010. Later, his death was linked with Operation Fast and Furious, a botched gun-running programme. | The last agent to die on the border was Brian Terry, killed in a shootout with Mexican bandits in December 2010. Later, his death was linked with Operation Fast and Furious, a botched gun-running programme. |