A southern Arizona man was hospitalized Tuesday after being shot during an armed confrontation with U.S. Border Patrol agents following a vehicle pursuit near the U.S.–Mexico border, federal and local authorities said.
The incident occurred near the rural community of Arivaca, about 10 miles north of the border, shortly after 7 a.m. Officials identified the suspect as 34-year-old Patrick Gary Schlegel, a U.S. citizen from Sahuarita, Arizona. He was taken to a local hospital, underwent surgery, and was reported to be in serious but stable condition. No law enforcement officers were injured.
According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Border Patrol agents initially attempted to stop a pickup truck carrying multiple occupants in the Arivaca area. The vehicle fled the scene. Approximately 30 minutes later, an agent spotted what appeared to be the same truck, this time with only the driver inside, and initiated a traffic stop.
Authorities said Schlegel exited the vehicle and ran, prompting a foot pursuit. During the chase, investigators say he fired multiple shots at agents on the ground and also discharged a firearm toward a manned Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations helicopter overhead. A Border Patrol agent returned fire, striking Schlegel.
The FBI confirmed that Schlegel was wanted on an active federal arrest warrant issued in December for escape. Court records show he had previously pleaded guilty in 2024 to transporting undocumented migrants for profit and unlawful possession of a firearm, receiving a 36-month sentence. He had been assigned to a residential re-entry facility in Tucson but allegedly failed to return after leaving for a scheduled counseling appointment in mid-December.
Federal officials described Tuesday’s incident as connected to an ongoing alien smuggling investigation. The FBI said it plans to submit a criminal complaint recommending federal charges that include assault on a federal officer, alien smuggling, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Multiple investigations have been launched into the shooting. At the FBI’s request, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department is leading the review of the Border Patrol agent’s use of force, a process Sheriff Chris Nanos said is standard when federal officers are involved in shootings within the county. The FBI and CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility are conducting separate, parallel investigations.
The shooting comes at a time of increased national attention on federal law enforcement operations, following recent officer-involved shootings in other states that have drawn protests and political scrutiny. Customs and Border Protection data shows that use-of-force incidents have risen in parts of southern Arizona as enforcement activity has expanded in recent months.
For deeper context and verified updates, read the full analysis on “Maine ICE Enforcement Drive Tops 200 Detentions, Prompting Public Outcry and Legal Challenges” before forming conclusions.
