UPDATE: From the White House:
The President called the family of Nicholas Ivie, the Border Patrol Agent who was killed in the line of duty earlier today. The President expressed his sadness for the family’s loss, and his gratitude for Agent Ivie’s selfless service to his nation. The President told the family they are in his thoughts and prayers and made clear that his administration was doing everything it could to locate those responsible for this tragic event.
In addition, Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar issued a statement remembering Ivie:
“Last night, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection family suffered the loss of Border Patrol Agent Nicholas J. Ivie at the hands of criminals operating on the border near Naco, Arizona. Another agent was also wounded and was treated at a local hospital. Agent Ivie died in the line of duty, protecting our nation against those who threaten our way of life. His death only strengthens our resolve to enforce the rule of law and bring those responsible to justice. Our thoughts and prayers are with Agent Ivie’s family and friends in this difficult time.”
– End Update –
A pair of U.S. Border Patrol agents were shot Tuesday morning in Naco, Arizona, which is located less a mile from the Mexican border.
One agent was reportedly killed, while the other was wounded — both were on horseback. They were shot near the Brian A. Terry Border Patrol Station, named after the fallen Border agent whose murder shed light on a federal gun-walking scandal called Operation Fast and Furious.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), whose House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has led an investigation into the program, reacted to the shootings by urging investigators to “avoid drawing conclusions before relevant facts are known.”
“This shooting is a tragic reminder of the dangers the brave men and women who guard our borders face every day,” he said. “Just last month, I attended a ceremony with agents based at the Bisbee station naming it in honor of their fallen colleague, Brian Terry. My prayers are with the family of the agent who lost his life today and his wounded colleague. Authorities must investigate the full circumstances of this shooting. I urge everyone to think of the families of these agents and avoid drawing conclusions before relevant facts are known.”
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who has led the fight in the Senate to uncover details about Fast and Furious, also commented on the shootings:
“There’s no way to know at this point how the agent was killed, but because of Operation Fast and Furious, we’ll wonder for years if the guns used in any killing along the border were part of an ill-advised gunwalking strategy sanctioned by the federal government. It’s a sad commentary. We all mourn for the Border Patrol agent who was killed near the border station named after another fallen hero and fellow agent, Brian Terry.”
