Crime

Gun-Wielding Man Shot at San Diego Border Crossing

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A man who fired a starter pistol as he fled border inspectors was wounded after two officers shot at him at the nation’s busiest border crossing Thursday.

The afternoon shooting prompted U.S. Customs and Border Protection to temporarily suspend pedestrian travel into the United States from Mexico at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman Angelica De Cima said.

The man grew nervous under questioning at an inspection booth and tried to run away, she said. He fired a shot from a starter pistol as officers converged on him and then the officers opened fire.

Starter pistols are used in horse or car races and do not fire bullets, but the metallic object appeared to be a weapon, San Diego Police Lt. Kevin Rooney said.

“It appears to be a semiautomatic weapon to the naked eye,” he said. “It’s metal, silver in color with rubber grips on it.”

The man, who told authorities he was 47 years old, was taken to a trauma center for treatment. Rooney said he didn‘t know the man’s name, nationality or how many times he was shot.

One of the border officers sustained a minor injury to his hand, authorities said.

Rooney said police will investigate whether the officers’ use of force was justified. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigators will determine if the man should face criminal charges.

Inspection for pedestrians travel was suspended for two hours until officials converted two of the 24 U.S.-bound vehicle lanes to handle pedestrian traffic.

About 50,000 vehicles and 25,000 pedestrians enter the United States at the San Ysidro border crossing each day.

Last week, all U.S.-bound traffic was halted at the crossing after scaffolding installed to protect cars from overhead construction collapsed onto eight lanes, seriously injuring a construction worker. Ten others were taken to hospitals with minor injuries.

Comments (44)

  • Wolf
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:26pm

    “It appears to be a semiautomatic weapon to the naked eye,” he said. “It’s metal, silver in color with rubber grips on it.”
    BS. Starter pistols aren’t semi-autos.

    Report Post »  
    • Latter-Day-Soldier
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:08pm

      Hey wolf,

      I have found a starter pistol that is semi-auto, it’s a Bruni model P4 that fires 8mm blanks and is made in Italy…but it’s color is matte black and does not at all match the description given by the “spokesperson” in the article

      Report Post » Latter-Day-Soldier  
    • Maine932
      Posted on September 24, 2011 at 5:05am

      Sorry, Wolf…some are designed to replicate a semi auto hand gun.

      Report Post » Maine932  
    • txbigfoot
      Posted on September 24, 2011 at 8:47am

      LOL @Wolf
      http://www.starterpistol.com/
      No take your foot out of your mouth.
      You know nothing. Please fact check before you attempt to contribute.

      Report Post » txbigfoot  
  • silentme63
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 2:35pm

    Government Issued gun I’m sure… Larry, Obama, and Chu… those socialist leftwing Mao loving clowns should join circus its in town…

    Report Post »  
  • Al J Zira
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 1:24pm

    Rooney said police will investigate whether the officers’ use of force was justified. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigators will determine if the man should face criminal charges.

    Is there really a question in that statement? You gotta be kidding me? I think this means a bunch of liberal bureaucrats and the ACLU will determine that the border patrol acted violently. As a result the man will be given permanent citizenship, a job, healthcare and a pension.

    Report Post » Al J Zira  
    • DanWesson455
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 1:33pm

      Just Die you BITC*! You sound like my Mother. Terminator 3 in the collider scene

      Report Post » DanWesson455  
    • BSdetector
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 2:58pm

      Unfortunately he will probably live a long, carefree life with the money he gets from suing the border patrol for returning fire.

      Report Post » BSdetector  
  • Sorocialism
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 1:06pm

    Wow, I am anti-illegal immigration but you are nutty.

    Report Post »  
  • Gypsy123
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 12:31pm

    Not sure of what country he is from interesting.

    Report Post » Gypsy123  
  • Elena2010
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 11:24am

    He‘s lucky he’s still on this side of the daises. Produce a gun in front of law enforcement, get shot. Kinda simple if you ask me…

    Report Post » Elena2010  
  • Junter
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 10:31am

    Investigate whether the officers use of force was justified? You’re kidding right? Is it normal for people crossing a nations boarder to fire any type of device at law enforcement and run?

    Report Post »  
    • ConstitutionalPatriot
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 11:12am

      I smell a set up! Why would he have the ‘pistol’ at the border crossing and why would he turn and fire it while running away?

      This is a case of a useful idiot doing some ones bidding. A.K.A. more illegal immigration help.

      Report Post » ConstitutionalPatriot  
  • gmoneytx
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 10:06am

    Oh no, was that Jose the Jalapeno on a stick!

    Report Post » gmoneytx  
  • georgiavietvet
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:52am

    to bad they didn;t kill him. what kind of idiot pulls a “starter pistol” on cops? sounds to me like he was trying to commit suicide by cop, or he is a liberal plant trying to start an incident to make the border patrol look bad, which is obama’s and holders objective………………………

    Report Post »  
    • trench99
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 10:22am

      Of course there is more, it’s an expansion of government. The problem is that they are not getting the job done.

      Report Post »  
    • Patriot12
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 10:23am

      @ JZS

      Heres one for you:

      Obama sues Arizona for trying to protect itself from illegal immigration! Is that fabricated?

      People who think like you ultimately are destroying this country and you are to naive to realize it.

      Report Post »  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 10:31am

      @jzs – “more border agents” – depends on your definition.

      If you count all the ones that are posted EIGHTY MILES INTERIOR TO THE BORDER, then, yes, you are correct.

      But that is a BIG “IF” !!!
      .
      .
      .

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • ConstitutionalPatriot
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 11:18am

      Oh… OK ***, so because there are more border agents then under Bush;

      Who signed the Bill to add the Border Agent’s along the border?

      Who‘s administration did ’fast and furious’, which killed American’s and Border Agents?

      Who’s administration is attempting to make it near impossible for the agents to do their job?

      We‘ll await YOUR lie’s….

      Report Post » ConstitutionalPatriot  
    • drago
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 11:26am

      jzs, i told you to lay off the L.S.D……..

      Report Post »  
    • dasbunker
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:57pm

      If he was trying to commit suicide, he wouldn’t be running away.
      This is an obvious ploy of the communist, left sociopath’s, gun hating hetrophobes .
      Just wait for the backlash on law enforcement because of the horrible and unreasonable force perpetrated on a poor unfortunate illegal just looking for a better life.

      Report Post »  
    • Latter-Day-Soldier
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:00pm

      Hey Patriot12
      Remember the two Border Patrol agents who got sent to prison for shooting that Mexican drug-runner in the @$$ after he shot at them?
      Considering that government officials went into Mexico to ask the guy to testify against the B.P. agents, was not brought up on any charges and was again caught smuggling narcotics into the U.S. (and this was under the Bush administration) how do you think the Obama administration will handle this incident?

      Report Post » Latter-Day-Soldier  
    • Latter-Day-Soldier
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:12pm

      If the guy who was shot does try to sue, it would not surprise me if an activist judge is chosen to take the case that has a long history of defending murderers, drug dealers and similar individuals.

      Report Post » Latter-Day-Soldier  
  • Gavinwcaf
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:29am

    how quickly the goverment conversation turned from what the illegal criminal did to what the border patrol may have done wrong, A criminal pulls a pistol and shoots at the border patrol, the border patrol shoots back and they need to be investigated not the illegal, Heil Obama.

    Report Post » Gavinwcaf  
    • MidWestMom
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:55am

      Exactly. The border patrol officers did their job. Doesn’t matter if it was a starter pistol or a “real” pistol – it was a weapon & being used as such. I‘m betting the man carrying it wasn’t on his way to start a horse race.

      Report Post »  
    • Kneale
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 12:34pm

      Did that pistol have a F&F tag on it? Check the serial number and you will find that it’s an attack-starter-pistol.

      Report Post » Kneale  
    • GENEPAGLIARI
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 12:46pm

      And the poor fool probably thought he was firing a real pistol. He probably bought on the TJ black market and was told it was loaded…. or maybe he was told ” Bullets? You don’t need no steenking bullets.”

      Report Post »  
    • Latter-Day-Soldier
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:14pm

      I thought it was (or soon may be) “All hail Madam Hillary!!”
      Just a thought

      Report Post » Latter-Day-Soldier  
  • ninetoesjudd
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:23am

    This has to go into the dumb crook news files.

    Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:23am

    .
    Just wounded? Look’s like we need more range time. Now we have to pay to heal this fool. Waving a gun, even a toy gun in front of a cop. Does the same thing as that Red Cape and a Bull……

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • loriann12
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 11:22am

      Yea, and the police can’t tell toy guns from real guns, we already know that because of the incident with the autistic man.

      Report Post »  
    • GENEPAGLIARI
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 12:47pm

      Yeah. And all his family can come and visit and stay here and go to our free {for illegals} universities.

      Report Post »  
  • OldVietVet
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:51am

    The BP agents feared for their lives–SELF DEFENSE–end of story, except this guy will probably sue the USA and win in civil court–if he survives!

    Report Post » OldVietVet  
  • TheBeatGoesOn
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:47am

    Police were quoted as saying, “but he started it!”
    And they’re off……………..

    Report Post » TheBeatGoesOn  
  • Walkabout
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:44am

    This is why you have unions. To stand up to politicians who would expediently give in toi pressure groups.

    Given the wrong political climate and bad politicians, the border patrol officers would be scape goated for justifiably shooting the man.

    This story needs to be followed up on.

    Why did he have the pistol? As personal protection on both sides of the border.
    Was he afraid the border agents might find the starter pistol & arrest him?
    Or is there something more to this story?

    Report Post »  
    • Coolcat51
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:53am

      I hope he has to pay his own hospital bill.

      Report Post »  
    • Tom K
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:15am

      Most starter pistols look just like a regular pistol. Once the suspect drew the “weapon” he is a threat and the Border Patrol is justified to shoot him to defend themselves and others. The investigation should be cut and dried. Wasn’t Bruce Lee killed with a blank firing pistol ? If you have a death wish, point a starter, blank, real or toy pistol at me or my family and you will be quickly dispatched to your grave.

      Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:25am

      I believe the border patrol agents had every justification to shoot him.

      I just want to know was:

      He nervous that the border patrol would find the starter pistol he used for self defense

      He crazy

      He sent by a cartel to test security or start a situation that makes border patrol look bad & become less effective.

      Report Post »  
    • Gavinwcaf
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 9:32am

      this is why we wish Unions existed, they exist to turn this country into a socialiast country. UNIONS have lost there usefulness, they to will give up the agents for goverment handouts.

      Report Post » Gavinwcaf  
    • TheWholeTruth
      Posted on September 23, 2011 at 10:48am

      For self protection? REALLY? Then he is dumber than a box of rocks. Starter pistols don’t do anything but make noise. Blanks. Not much protection there other than psychological, hoping the looks and sound would deter someone. But, to fire it in the general direction of armed police officers? Not the brightest crayon in the box. Suicide by cop seems to be the goal here, IMO. False flag again to bolster the gun control mob maybe? Mark my words, something is coming.. something big.. something that will allow BO to put the rest of his plan in place. And it’s going to be the “Tea Party” type that will be blamed for it. God help us all.

      Report Post »  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on September 23, 2011 at 8:32am

    And this is a problem because…..?

    Report Post » biohazard23  

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