The FBI has started an investigation into the fatal shooting of an illegal immigrant detained at a Border Patrol facility in El Paso, Texas, according to two federal officials.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the FBI told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday that a detainee at the Border Patrol’s Ysleta Station in El Paso died Tuesday afternoon as the result of a gunshot wound.
The FBI, the lead government agency overseeing an investigation into the incident, said in an email that the incident is being handled as an “assault on a federal officer investigation.” Neither agency has disclosed details of what led to the shooting.
The incident took place around 12:45 p.m. local time. CBP and the FBI did not specify if the shooting took place inside or outside the station, which is where illegal immigrants apprehended on the border are transported to, processed, and detained for a short period.
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“One person in custody was shot and transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment,” according to a statement from CBP, which oversees the Border Patrol.
The FBI’s El Paso office was informed of the shooting around 1 p.m. and deployed its regional Violent Crime Task Force and Evidence Response Team to the station, according to FBI El Paso special agent in charge Jeffrey R. Downey.
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“At this time, the FBI can confirm the person has died from his injuries,” Downey said in a statement. “The FBI and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility are jointly working this assault on a federal officer investigation. As this is ongoing investigation, no further information can be provided at this time.”
