Officers Threatened in Canyon, They Report : Alleged Border Bandit Killed, 2nd Wounded

Four members of the Border Crime Prevention Unit opened fire on four suspected bandits Sunday night in a dark canyon about one mile east of the San Ysidro port of entry, fatally wounding one man and seriously injuring another.

The two men were taken to Mercy Hospital, where one was pronounced dead. The other was reported in serious but stable condition with gunshot wounds in his head and buttocks, authorities said.

San Diego police homicide Lt. Phil Jarvis said three police officers and a Border Patrol agent were patrolling about 8:30 p.m. in a heavy brush area of Spring Canyon where in the previous week bandits wearing heavy clothing had been reported robbing illegal aliens.

The four officers noticed a group of four men following another group, believed to be illegal aliens, walking through the canyon. As the four suspects pursued the group, Jarvis said, they saw the patrol unit nearby and began to approach the officers.

Border Patrol Agent Fred Ewalt was about 50 feet ahead of the other officers when he was confronted by a man about 10 feet away wearing a trench coat, Jarvis said. Ewalt exchanged words with the man, detectives said.

“They were just inquiries between the two, stuff like ‘Who are you?’ and ‘What are you doing here?’ ” Jarvis said.

At that point, Jarvis said, Ewalt saw the man reach into his coat pocket. An officer behind Ewalt turned on his flashlight and shined it toward the man, and Ewalt saw what appeared to be a handgun.

“The lead guy yelled: ‘He’s got a gun, he’s got a gun,’ ” Jarvis said. About the same time, officers saw a second man reach into his pocket, pull out an object that also looked like a gun, and advance toward the officers, the lieutenant said.

In a matter of three to five seconds, all the officers drew their weapons and fired “between 20 to 30 times,” fatally wounding the first man in the abdomen and seriously wounding the other, Jarvis said.

A 17-year-old juvenile with the group dropped to the ground as bullets flew through the air, Jarvis said. The youth was arrested and placed in Juvenile Hall. A fourth suspect, last seen wearing a dark jacket, fled back across the border into Mexico, homicide detectives said.

The weapon the dead man was carrying turned out to be an air pistol that closely resembled an automatic handgun, Jarvis said; the seriously wounded suspect was carrying a large screwdriver.

“They matched the description of those who were pulling the robberies in the area,” Jarvis said. “It’s a little bit unusual for aliens who are coming over to be wearing heavy clothing.”

The juvenile and the two armed men have not been identified, Jarvis said. The shooting victims appeared to be in their early 20s.

The four officers have been assigned to administrative duties pending an investigation of the shootings.