A U.S. Customs and Border Safety agent and a suspected smuggler had been lifeless Friday after a shootout off Puerto Rico’s coast, authorities stated. Two different CBP brokers had been additionally injured within the gunfire, they stated.
“Our hearts are heavy at this time because of the demise and harm of Marine Interdiction Brokers following an trade of gunfire (with) suspected smugglers off the Puerto Rican coast,” Troy Miller, appearing CBP commissioner stated in a statement shared on Twitter on Thursday.
“We’re working with companions to make sure these accountable are delivered to justice and can share information as we’re in a position,” Miller stated.
CBP’s Air and Marine Operations unit was on a routine patrol when photographs had been fired about 12 miles off the coast of Cabo Rojo at round 8 a.m. native time (7 a.m. EST), NBC South Florida reported.
A CBP agent was fatally shot, whereas one in every of at the least two suspected smugglers additionally died, CBP spokesman Jeffrey Quiñones stated, addressing reporters Thursday.
The CBP Air and Marine Operations company stated in a tweet it was a marine interdiction agent who had died.
The FBI is main an investigation into the taking pictures, NBC South Florida reported.
“These are courageous members of our Air and Marine Operations inside @CBP,” Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated in a press release shared on Twitter by a DHS spokesperson. “So the issue of this job can’t be in comparison with the issue that our frontline personnel face day by day — and their bravery, and selfless service ought to be acknowledged.”
