The Region - News from Jan. 26, 1987

A U.S. Border Patrol agent was in guarded condition at a San Diego hospital after a fellow agent, whose vision was impaired by darkness, shot him when he mistakenly thought he was committing a robbery, authorities said. Augustin Diaz was arresting three illegal aliens along a stretch of border frequented by drug smugglers when a fellow agent arrived and thought he had interrupted a robbery. Diaz had the three illegal aliens lying face down in the Otay River bottom. Diaz was struck three times in the abdomen, ankle and thigh when the two agents exchanged gunfire. The other agent’s name was not released by San Diego police and the FBI, who were investigating.