"Hit gone bad"; Mexican gang fails to kill border patrol agent, family
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/breakingnews/71167.php
In what inside police sources describe as a “hit gone bad, ” a dead man found on the South Side has been connected to the armed invasion of the home of an off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent and his family.
Tucson police Sgt. Fabian Pacheco said investigators have determined that Christian Gomez, 20, who had been shot to death, was one of the suspects in the invasion, which occurred at 4:50 a.m. Dec. 9. His body was found almost five hours later in a desert area south of Irvington Road and First Avenue , Pacheco said.
A Border Patrol agent, whom police would not identify, said four armed intruders forced their way into his home and one fired a gun at him as the agent retreated.
The agent then got his duty weapon and "returned fire as the suspects fled the area in a Kia (sport utility vehicle)," Pacheco said. He added that the agent, who immediately called 911, didn't know whether he hit any of the intruders.
“We are under attack,” the agent said. “Our families have been targeted by Ms-13and other violent gangs.”
About two and a half hours later, a police officer saw smoke near Campbell Avenue and Virginia Street , just north of Drexel Road . A Kia SUV was "fully engulfed in flames," Pacheco said, adding that bullet holes were found in it after the fire was put out. Police suspected it was the vehicle in the home invasion.
Subsequently, detectives identified and arrested Mark A. Escobar Jr., who they believe to have been the driver, Pacheco said.
He is being held in the Pima County Jail on $500,000 bond on charges of first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, arson of an occupied structure, armed robbery and aggravated robbery.
Detectives still are looking for additional suspects. Inside police sources reveal a growing anger amongst the rank and file, who believe that local government open border policy, and a “hands off” approach to illegals, has significantly increased their danger.
“We all know what happened to Officer Nick Erfle up in Phoenix .” Last month Officer Nick Erfle, a father of three, was knocked to the ground and shot three times in the face, by a Mexican Illegal who had been deported the month before.
The Border Patrol is doing an administrative investigation of the agent's use of force, said Public Information Officer Jesus Rodriguez. He said it is policy for the agency to investigate any agent-involved shooting, on or off duty.
He said he doesn't expect a report for a week or more.
The home invasion is being investigated by the Tucson Police Department, which asks anyone with information to call 911 or 88-CRIME.
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