Border Patrol Agents Shoot Suspect Who Fired on Helicopter Near Arivaca, Arizona, Leaving Him Critical
Updated (5 articles)
Shooting Occurs During Attempted Traffic Stop Near Arivaca At about 7:20 a.m. local time on Jan 27, 2026, Border Patrol agents tried to stop a pickup truck on Highway 86 near Arivaca, Arizona. The driver, 34‑year‑old Patrick Gary Schlegel, fled, fired at a CBP helicopter and at agents, and was shot in return fire. He was treated on scene, air‑lifted by Santa Rita Fire District and American Medical Response, and remains in critical condition [1][2][3][4][5].
Suspect Identified as Patrick Gary Schlegel with Prior Smuggling Warrant FBI Special Agent Heith Janke confirmed the wounded man is Patrick Gary Schlegel, who has a 2025 federal warrant for escape stemming from an alien‑smuggling conviction and a documented criminal history. Court records show a December warrant for escape and a recent counseling session at Dismas Charities that he failed to return from. He is expected to face federal charges of assault on a federal officer, alien smuggling, and felon in possession of a firearm [1][2][3][4][5].
Multi‑Agency Use‑of‑Force Investigation Launched Under Sheriff Leadership The FBI asked the Pima County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division to lead the use‑of‑force probe, a routine step when a federal agency is involved in a shooting. The sheriff’s office emphasized its long‑standing border relationships to ensure transparency, while the FBI conducts a parallel investigation. Interviews with the suspect, witnesses, and officials are ongoing [1][2][3][4][5].
Medical Response Air‑Lifts Wounded Man to Regional Trauma Center Santa Rita Fire District arrived, found the suspect critically wounded, and coordinated an air‑lift to a regional trauma center after initial surgery. The patient was later transferred by medical helicopter to a larger facility for continued care and remains in custody. Officials said Border Patrol agents rendered aid before the transport [1][2][3][4][5].
Incident Adds to Surge in Border‑Related Shootings and Draws Humanitarian Criticism The Arivaca shooting is the seventh law‑enforcement shooting in Arizona in 2026 and the second in southern Arizona that day, reflecting a recent spike in immigration‑related gun incidents. Humanitarian group No More Deaths labeled the force “excessive,” citing 364 documented Border Patrol deaths since 2010 and calling for an investigation and policy changes. The event underscores heightened tensions surrounding border enforcement [1][2][3][4][5].
Sources
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1.
Newsweek: Border Patrol Agent Shoots Suspect Near Arivaca, Arizona – Details the Jan 27 shooting, Schlegel’s criminal background, federal charges, multi‑agency investigation, and humanitarian group condemnation .
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2.
AP: Man Wounded After Shooting at Border Patrol Helicopter Near Arivaca – Highlights the suspect’s gunfire on a helicopter, FBI’s request for a sheriff‑led probe, and contextual surge in immigration‑officer shootings .
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3.
WBNS: Shooting Near Arivaca Leaves One Person Critical After Border Patrol Clash – Reports the critical injury, suspect identification, sheriff‑led investigation, and statistical context of recent Border Patrol shootings .
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4.
King5: Shooting Near Arivaca Leaves One Man in Critical Condition – Mirrors other accounts, adds CBP’s lack of comment, and notes the sheriff’s emphasis on border relationships for transparency .
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CNN: Shooting Near Arizona Border Leaves One Person Critical – Focuses on the critical condition of the victim, FBI‑sheriff investigation, and calls for community patience while details remain developing .
Timeline
2010 – The humanitarian group No More Deaths records that Border Patrol agents have been involved in 364 documented deadly encounters since 2010, underscoring a long‑standing pattern of lethal force at the border [2].
2025 (through Sep.) – Border Patrol agents fire their weapons in eight incidents during the 12‑month period ending September 2025, down from 14 the prior year and 13 the year before that, highlighting a recent decline in firearm use [4].
Dec 15, 2025 – Patrick Gary Schlegel signs out of Dismas Charities in Tucson for a counseling session and never returns, a detail later cited by the FBI in identifying the wounded suspect [3].
2025 – Schlegel carries a 2025 warrant for escape stemming from a prior alien‑smuggling conviction, establishing his criminal background before the Jan 27 2026 shooting [3][4][5].
Early Jan 2026 – A fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis occurs weeks before the Arivaca incident, adding to a national surge in immigration‑related gun violence [2].
Early Jan 2026 – At least three other officer‑involved shootings happen near Tucson earlier in the month, indicating a spike in law‑enforcement gunfire in southern Arizona [2].
Jan 27, 2026 (≈ 7:20 a.m. local) – Border Patrol agents attempt to stop Schlegel’s pickup truck near Arivaca; he fires at a CBP helicopter and agents, who return fire and wound him critically [2][3][4][5].
Jan 27, 2026 – Schlegel is air‑lifted to Banner Hospital, undergoes surgery, and remains in critical condition, while Santa Rita Fire District and American Medical Response provide emergency care [2][1].
Jan 27, 2026 – The FBI asks the Pima County Sheriff’s Department to lead the use‑of‑force investigation, launching a multi‑agency probe that includes the FBI, CBP Office of Professional Responsibility, and the sheriff’s criminal‑investigation division [1][2][3][4][5].
Jan 27, 2026 – The Pima County Sheriff’s Department urges residents to “remain patient and understanding” as the investigations proceed, noting the case’s complexity [1].
Jan 27, 2026 – No More Deaths condemns the shooting as “excessive use of force,” cites the 364 deadly Border Patrol encounters since 2010, and calls for the abolition of Border Patrol and ICE [2].
Jan 27, 2026 – Officials note this is the seventh law‑enforcement shooting in Arizona in 2026 and the second in southern Arizona that day, reflecting an ongoing pattern of border‑related gunfire [2].
Jan 27, 2026 onward – Schlegel faces three federal charges—assault on a federal officer, alien smuggling, and felon in possession of a firearm—and remains in federal custody pending a criminal complaint [2][3][4][5].
Jan 27, 2026 onward – The FBI conducts a parallel inquiry while the sheriff’s office leads the use‑of‑force review, both described as “complex and time‑consuming,” indicating prolonged investigative timelines [1].
External resources (1 links)
- https://bit.ly/467fw4Z (cited 2 times)