A 34-year-old man was shot and critically wounded by federal authorities near Arivaca, Arizona, early Tuesday (January 28) after allegedly firing a handgun at both a law enforcement helicopter and a Border Patrol agent on the ground during an attempted arrest linked to human smuggling, according to officials.
The incident began around 7:30 a.m. when U.S. Border Patrol agents recognized a Dodge pickup connected to a suspected human trafficking case from earlier that morning, in which all passengers had fled during a traffic stop. When agents tried to stop the vehicle again on West Arivaca Road, the driver, later identified as Patrick Gary Schlegel, allegedly fled on foot into the desert. During the pursuit, he fired at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) helicopter and at a pursuing agent, who returned fire and struck him, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department reported.
Schlegel, who has a “significant criminal history” and was wanted on a federal warrant for escape related to a previous human smuggling conviction, was taken by helicopter to a Tucson hospital and is listed in serious but stable condition, as confirmed during a press briefing by Sheriff Chris Nanos and FBI officials. No agents were injured in the exchange of gunfire.
Authorities say Schlegel will face charges including assault on a federal officer, alien smuggling, and felon in possession of a firearm. He previously served part of a three-year sentence for similar offenses but escaped federal custody last month after failing to return from an alcohol counseling session at a Tucson re-entry center, according to the Arizona Daily Star.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is leading the use-of-force investigation, while the FBI’s Tucson office is handling the alleged assault on federal officers. Sheriff Nanos emphasized the commitment to transparency and thoroughness, stating, “This case, like any case we deal with, will be done by what we call the rule of law.” Investigators are reviewing body camera and helicopter footage and collecting evidence from the scene.
The incident comes amid heightened national attention on use-of-force cases involving federal immigration agents, with recent fatal shootings in Minneapolis prompting calls for increased oversight.
Authorities ask the public for patience as investigations continue and have pledged to provide updates as more information becomes available.
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