Border Patrol detainee was fatally shot in Texas, officials say; investigation ongoing

A Mexican national in U.S. Border Patrol custody was fatally shot on Tuesday in an incident at a USBP station in El Paso, Texas, authorities said this week.

Manuel Gonzalez-Moran escaped from his holding cell where he was detained for illegally re-entering the U.S. and started threatening agents with a weapon, according to a statement from the FBI.

After multiple attempts to deescalate the situation, including the use of a taser, Moran continued to advance on Border Patrol agents and was shot, the FBI said in a statement. He was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.

No other injuries were reported by Customs and Border Protection on Tuesday. The FBI is conducting an ongoing investigation into the matter.

Moran had been deported in May after serving 11 years of a 17-year sentence for assault, the FBI said.

An FBI spokesman said in a statement late Tuesday that their agents were first contacted about the fatal shooting about 1 p.m. local time.

"As this is ongoing investigation, no further information can be provided at this time," said Jeffrey R. Downey, the FBI El Paso special agent in charge said.

The CBP Office of Professional Responsibility is also investigating along with the El Paso Police Department.

The increased level of migrants detained or arrested at the southern border -- which is at a record high this fiscal year, according to government data, with many people fleeing political and economic turmoil -- corresponds with an increased number of use-of-force incidents involving a gun.

There have been 17 such shootings since last October, compared to seven in 2019, according to CBP.

Much like police stations and other law enforcement facilities, Border Patrol detainees are temporarily held at stations where agents are regularly armed.