Border Patrol Shooting Suspects At Large
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SAN BENITO - Border Patrol said the search for two gunmen accused of shooting at agents in the Rio Grande Valley area continues.
The incident happened Friday morning near FM 2520 and Military Highway near San Benito.
Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector Chief Deputy Raul Ortiz said the incident raised concerns for agents and people living along the border.
Ortiz said the agency started to notice an increase in border crime between Los Indios and San Benito.
“So this morning we had a vehicle loaded up with some narcotics,” he said. “Our agents were able to spot the vehicle as it was leaving their river area and engage in a short pursuit.”
Ortiz said Border Patrol agents tried to stop a van driving north onto Military Highway 281 from the Rio Grande. He said the driver turned the van around and headed back south towards the river.
“It appears that there were some folks that were waiting for the two subjects to pick them up,” he said.
Border Patrol agents followed in a short pursuit forcing the suspects abandon the vehicle and escape towards the river.
“There was an exchange of gunfire on the Mexican side. Our agents were in the area trying to secure the scene,” he said. “We got out team working with our Mexican partners to try and identify who those subjects are.”
Ortiz said no one was injured.
Cameron County resident Eriberto Chavez also lives along the border. He thought it was farmers working beyond the fence.
“The tractors were out here working. They were out for three days with the sugarcane, lots of people working out here,” he said.
Chavez said he was shocked to learn there was a gunfire exchange. He said he fears for the safety of his children. Although he does notice law enforcement presence in the area, he said it might not change things.
Ortiz said they continue to work with Mexican law enforcement to identify and capture the two suspects.
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