Federal and local authorities are investigating a deadly shooting by a U.S. Border Patrol Agent in Washington State.
“On Thursday, March 19, at approximately 2:30 p.m. PST, a U.S. Border Patrol agent on patrol along the U.S.-Canadian border near Sumas, Washington, discharged his service-issued weapon, fatally striking an individual,” said a statement released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The CBP says the agent was “assaulted after an encounter with a suspected illegal border crosser.”
The reported shooting happened near the Huntington Border Crossing which connects the cities of Sumas, Washington and Abbotsford, British Columbia. It is one of several area border crossings between the U.S. and Canada and is located east of Bellingham, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia.
The Bellingham Herald newspaper reported that the incident happened after “an apparent confrontation with law enforcement.” The newspaper went on to say “multiple radio dispatches stated the man suffered a gunshot wound to the head.” The Herald said “the agent had been hit by pepper spray but wasn’t seriously injured, according to police radio traffic.”
The shooting apparently happened on an east-west road less than a thousand feet from the border. Video from CNN partner CTV Network showed a covered body lying on the roadway, surrounded by police and investigation vehicles.
The Border Patrol agent and the shooting victim have not been identified.
The FBI and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office are assisting in the investigation.