Border Patrol Agent Shot, Killed Near San Diego

A U.S. Border Patrol Agent was shot and killed in the Campo area Thursday night while investigating a group of people presumed to have crossed into the country illegally.

An agent on patrol spotted the group sometime between 8:30 and 9 p.m. in the remote and rocky terrain south of state Route 94 off Shockey Truck Trail not far from the border, Agent Daryl Reed said.

He called for other agents who split up and began to trail the group, Reed said.

At about 9:15 p.m. agents, who had lost radio contact with their fellow agent, heard multiple gunshots and rushed to the area where they found the agent had been shot, Reed said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. San Diego police said the agent was shot in the head.

Several agencies responded to the shooting including the Sheriff’s Department, the FBI and Cal Fire. A large-scale search by land and air was conducted but no one in the group was found, Reed said.

Mexican authorities also were notified and conducted a search on their side of the border, Reed said. It’s unknown if the group was smuggling humans or drugs or if the people fled back into Mexico.

A FBI press conference is scheduled for later today.

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