BP agent shoots man in Potrero Canyon

A 23-year-old Guaymas, Sonora man is in stable condition after being shot Saturday by a Border Patrol agent in Potrero Canyon west of Nogales.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff Antonio Estrada said his office received a call from BP at about 4:15 a.m. concerning the incident that occurred near Forest Service Road 4210.

Estrada gave the following account:

“The report was that Border Patrol in the area came upon a group of undocumented persons. They turned around and fled. One of those in the group turned around and threw rocks” at the officers.

The pursuit then continued and the individual, who was dressed differently than the others in the group, “turned around and started throwing rocks at the officers again. This time one of the agents shot the man three times; one bullet hit the individual in the right arm near the elbow, another on the left thigh and a third in the left knee.”

The man who was shot was identified as Jaime Martinez. He was taken to a Tucson hospital where he is in stable condition. The Mexican consulate has been advised.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation will take over the case, said Estrada, adding that the BP Critical Incident Team responded to the scene as well. There were no drugs found near the area, and because of the different clothing worn by the man, Estrada said he suspects Martinez was the coyote leading a group of people who crossed into the United States illegally.

Asked if in his opinion such a scenario would warrant shooting the alleged smuggler, Estrada said, “Oh yes. Rocks can maim or kill someone. This man seemed very determined because he did it not just once, but twice. I think under the circumstances the agent had no choice but to defend himself.

“I empathize with them and we are always very concerned about their safety especially when they are exposed to that situation at night not knowing what the smugglers are carrying or how intent they are about getting their contraband through.”