Border Patrol releases video of fatal shooting in Arizona 

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol released on Thursday the footage of a chase through the Arizona desert that ended in the death of an American citizen last month. 

On March 14, Border Patrol agents received a radio notification about a group of migrants that were seen entering a car just north of the Sasabe Port of Entry. When the BMW passed along State Route 286, two agents in a parked car attempted to stop the vehicle. However, the vehicle did not stop and a pursuit ensued. 

“The driver of the BMW was reportedly driving in an erratic manner turning the vehicle’s turn signals on and off and speeding up and slowing down,” the CBP said in a statement.   

The footage, taken by a body camera of an officer, shows how the pursuit ended: the agent runs towards the car and smashes two car windows with the baton before grabbing the driver. 

At that moment, the BMW starts moving in reverse. The agent draws their weapon, fires a shot into the car, and strikes the driver. 

“Both agents, who were trained as emergency medical technicians, rendered aid to the driver of the vehicle by performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and using an automated external defibrillator. The driver, a U.S. citizen, was declared deceased on the scene by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department,” the statement continues. 

Six occupants were traveling in the car, three of which were in the trunk. One of the passengers was a U.S. citizen, while the rest were undocumented migrants. 

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility are investigating the incident. The incident was also referred to DHS’s Office of Inspector General.

“The agent involved in the use of force is on administrative leave, pursuant to standard practice at this point in an investigation following a use of deadly force,” the CBP said.