Current Events > AP: Authorities believe dead border agent may have fallen down culvert

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http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/ap-source-authorities-border-agent-fallen-51293061

Investigators believe a border patrol agent who died in West Texas after suffering extensive injuries to his head and body may have fallen down a 14-foot (4-meter) culvert, and his partner, who radioed for help, has no memory of what happened, according to a U.S. official with knowledge of the investigation.

FBI spokeswoman Jeanette Harper said in a statement Monday that both agents were found late Saturday night in a culvert near Van Horn and that both had traumatic head injuries. Harper said Rogelio Martinez died early Sunday. The FBI is leading the investigation and results of his autopsy are pending.

Another U.S. official, who was briefed on the investigation but is not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Monday that Martinez was found at the bottom of the culvert and that investigators believe he may have fallen. The official said it happened after dark in an area that's known for drug activity and where agents often look for drugs in culverts.

Authorities haven't offered an official explanation of what happened to Martinez and his partner, and a border patrol supervisor said reports that the agents were attacked are "speculation."

Several elected officials, including President Donald Trump, have called Martinez's death an attack. Rush Carter, a supervisor for the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol region that includes the area where Martinez died, said all the agency can confirm is that the two "were injured while performing their regular duties."

"We are waiting for the investigation to fully determine how those injuries happened," Carter said Monday night.

Harper told the San Antonio Express-News on Sunday that Martinez and his partner were "not fired upon," but she didn't elaborate.

Martinez's father told the El Paso Times that his son suffered serious injuries that left his head "destroyed." The agent repeatedly suffered cardiac arrest before succumbing to his injuries, an emotional Jose Martinez said.

"I would tell him, 'Son, that job is too dangerous.' But he would say, 'Dad, it's the job I like. I want to defend my country from terrorists . I want to prevent terrorists and drugs from coming into the country,'" Martinez said.

Rogelio Martinez, father to an 11-year-old, lived in El Paso and joined the Border Patrol in 2013.

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Trump took to Twitter on Sunday to insist that Martinez's death underscores the need for a wall along the border between the U.S. and Mexico.

"Border Patrol Officer killed at Southern Border, another badly hurt. We will seek out and bring to justice those responsible. We will, and must, build the Wall!" he tweeted.

The president offered his condolences to Martinez's family. He also said Martinez's partner was "brutally beaten and badly, badly hurt" but that it "looks like he'll make it."

Authorities haven't said whether they have any suspects or whether they think smugglers or people who were in the country illegally were involved.

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But Trump always waits for all the facts!
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The Great Muta 22 posted...

Trump took to Twitter on Sunday to insist that Martinez's death underscores the need for a wall along the border between the U.S. and Mexico.

"Border Patrol Officer killed at Southern Border, another badly hurt. We will seek out and bring to justice those responsible. We will, and must, build the Wall!" he tweeted.

I like the part where he waited for all the facts to come in
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I hope it wasn't a flying bag of drugs
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Lol a guy falls into a culvert and Trump says this is why we need a wall. I cant believe real life anymore. I really cant.
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HydraSlayer82 posted...

Lol a guy falls into a culvert and Trump says this is why we need a wall. I cant believe real life anymore. I really cant.

But what if the wall prevents agents from falling into culverts hmmmmm
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eston posted...

The Great Muta 22 posted...

Trump took to Twitter on Sunday to insist that Martinez's death underscores the need for a wall along the border between the U.S. and Mexico.

"Border Patrol Officer killed at Southern Border, another badly hurt. We will seek out and bring to justice those responsible. We will, and must, build the Wall!" he tweeted.

I like the part where he waited for all the facts to come in

I don't see what the problem is, if there was a wall around the culvert he wouldn't have fallen in.
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Am I the only one who had to google culvert?
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