U.S. Border Patrolman Shoots and Wounds Mexican Boy, 12

A U.S. Border Patrol officer shot and wounded a 12-year-old Mexican boy who was standing on the Mexico side of the border fence, authorities said today.

The youth, identified as Humberto Carrillo-Estrada, was reported in serious condition at a San Diego hospital.

Police said the boy was preparing to hurl rocks at Border Patrol agents pursuing his brother when he was shot. The shooting occurred Thursday afternoon about a quarter of a mile east of the San Ysidro port of entry.

San Diego police spokesman Bill Robinson said the youth was shot by an agent who fired from the U.S. side through a fence that separates the countries.

At the time of the shooting, the youth “was poised with a rock in each hand at the fence,” San Diego Police Lt. Paul Ybarrondo said.

Ybarrondo said border agents Edward D. Cole, 34, and Patrick Lonergan, 31, were in pursuit of a Mexican youth later identified as Eduardo Carrillo-Estrada, Humberto’s 15-year-old brother. The chase led them to a dirt road parallel to the border fence.

As they struggled with Eduardo, a group of people on the Mexican side of the border began pelting them with rocks, police said.

Ybarrondo said Humberto was struck by a bullet when Cole fired three rounds from his service revolver--two in the air and one toward the group.