Suspect in alleged human trafficking incident shot during exchange of gunfire with Border Patrol: Sheriff
A man sought in connection with an alleged human trafficking incident was shot during an exchange of gunfire with U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona, authorities said, and he is now facing federal charges.
The shooting occurred Tuesday morning in Arivaca, located approximately 10 miles from the border, according to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos.
Border Patrol agents were attempting to make a traffic stop on a vehicle when the passengers and vehicle "fled," Nanos said. An agent located the vehicle later that morning and attempted to make a second traffic stop, he said.
"When they made that traffic stop, the lone occupant, the driver, fled on foot," Nanos said during a press briefing on Tuesday. "The Border Patrol agent chased after him on foot. Shortly thereafter, shots were fired from the suspect and the agent returned fire."
The suspect -- identified as Patrick Gary Schlegel, 34, of Sahuarita, Arizona -- shot at a "manned CBP helicopter," according to Heith Janke, special agent in charge of the FBI Phoenix division.
Schlegel was struck by the returned gunfire and was listed in serious but stable condition on Tuesday, Nanos said. No agents were believed to have been injured, he said.
Schlegel is accused of transporting undocumented immigrants, according to the criminal complaint. The migrants in the vehicle told agents that they paid him $8,000 to $14,000 each to be smuggled into the U.S., the complaint said.
Schlegel is in custody and facing federal charges of assault on a federal officer, prohibited possession of a firearm and transportation of an illegal alien, according to documents.
He has a "significant criminal history," including an active federal arrest warrant issued last year by the U.S. Marshal Service for "escape related to a previous federal alien smuggling conviction," Janke said.
The sheriff's office said it was leading the use-of-force investigation involving the agent, at the request of the FBI.
