In a dramatic turn of events near the U.S.-Mexico border, a man linked to a smuggling operation was shot during a confrontation with U.S. Border Patrol agents. The incident unfolded on Tuesday when the suspect reportedly fired at a federal helicopter, prompting an exchange of gunfire.
Authorities stated that the 34-year-old suspect, identified as Patrick Gary Schlegel from Arizona, was engaged in a shootout with federal agents as they attempted to detain him near Arivaca, Arizona. The FBI reported that Schlegel fired at a Border Patrol helicopter and agents, who subsequently returned fire, injuring him in the process.
Following the altercation, Schlegel was taken to a hospital where he underwent surgery and was reported to be recovering later that evening. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department was enlisted by the FBI to spearhead a use-of-force investigation, a standard procedure when federal agencies are involved in shootings within the county.
FBI Special Agent Heith Janke revealed that Schlegel has a criminal background, including an outstanding warrant from December related to a previous smuggling conviction. Court records indicate that Schlegel absconded from Dismas Charities in Tucson, where he was serving a sentence, under the pretense of attending a counseling session.
Now under federal custody, Schlegel faces charges including assault on a federal officer, alien smuggling, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to Janke. Arivaca, located approximately 10 miles from the border, is frequently traversed by drug smugglers and migrants, making it a routine patrol area for border agents.
“Let me be clear, any assault on law enforcement officers will not be tolerated,” asserted Janke, who oversees the FBI operations in Phoenix.
The Santa Rita Fire District reported that it responded to the shooting, with the injured individual being transported to a regional trauma center. Efforts to obtain further information from a local Tucson hospital were unsuccessful, while another hospital’s response was pending.
This incident comes amidst a series of shootings by immigration officers in Minnesota, part of a large-scale Department of Homeland Security operation. Unlike the recent shootings in Minneapolis, which were captured on video by local residents, the Arizona event occurred in a small community of roughly 500 residents, seemingly without video documentation.
The sheriff’s department cited “long standing relationships” in the border region as the basis for its involvement in the investigation, emphasizing the importance of transparency. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, a Democrat, has previously stated his department’s focus on local crime and public safety over enforcing federal immigration laws amidst increased federal crackdowns.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has yet to provide additional details, remaining unresponsive to inquiries. Over the past few years, Border Patrol agents have been involved in multiple shooting incidents, with eight recorded in the last 12-month period ending in September 2025, following 14 and 13 incidents in the two preceding years respectively.
Associated Press writers Jacques Billeaud and Sejal Govindarao in Phoenix contributed to this report.
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