ARIVACA, AZ — A suspect sought in connection with an alleged human trafficking incident was shot during an exchange of gunfire with U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona on Tuesday, authorities said.
The shooting occurred early 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."
During the incident, the suspect shot at a "manned CBP helicopter," according to Heith Janke, special agent in charge of the FBI Phoenix division.
The suspect was struck by the returned gunfire and is in serious but stable condition, Nanos said. No agents are believed to have been injured, he said.
The suspect -- identified by the FBI as Patrick Gary Schlegel, 34, of Sahuarita, Arizona -- is in custody. 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 during the briefing.
Schlegel is expected to be charged via federal criminal complaint with assault on a federal officer, alien smuggling and felon in possession of a firearm in connection with Tuesday's shooting, Janke said.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Tuesday that the incident remains under investigation and "more information will be provided when available."
The sheriff's office said it's leading the use-of-force investigation involving the agent, at the request of the FBI.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
