One person was shot and critically injured in an incident near the US–Mexico border in Arizona on Tuesday, officials said, according to the Associated Press.
The shooting occurred in Arivaca, a small community about 10 miles from the border. Authorities confirmed that the incident involved the US Border Patrol. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said it is working alongside the FBI and US Customs and Border Protection to investigate the circumstances.
Emergency responders from the Santa Rita Fire District arrived at the scene and provided medical assistance to the injured individual, who was later taken into custody. The person was then airlifted by medical helicopter to a regional trauma centre for urgent treatment.
The FBI later clarified that federal agents were attempting to arrest a 34-year-old Arizona man allegedly linked to a smuggling operation near Arivaca when he opened fire on a Border Patrol helicopter and on the agents. Agents returned fire, striking and wounding him, the FBI said.
