NEW MEXICO – A man from El Paso was sent to federal jail for trying to kill a U.S. Border Patrol agent in New Mexico during a normal immigration stop.
In the middle of nowhere on January 5, 2023, a Border Patrol agent pulled over 25-year-old Roberto Esquivel. According to court records, the agent approached the car and saw people inside who he thought might be illegal aliens. The officer then told Esquivel to get out of the car, which is when he shot the officer.
Authorities say Esquivel tried to leave the scene of the crime but lost control of his car and rolled it several times. Court records say he then ran away from the crash site and threw the gun into the desert. With the help of police, Esquivel and the gun were recovered.
Officials say the Border Patrol worker lived through the shooting because he wore a ballistic vest. One of the guests had to be flown to the hospital by helicopter, but they have since gotten better.
Esquivel was given a 19-year prison term and will have to serve three years of supervised release before he can get out.
