/ Modified oct 5, 2012 4:38 p.m.

FBI Confirms Border Patrol Shooting Was Friendly Fire

Preliminary investigation shows deadly incident involved "only the agents"

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said today "there are strong preliminary indications" that the Tuesday shooting that killed Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Ivie, and left another agent wounded and a third agent unharmed, was an accident involving friendly fire.

In a statement, the agency emphasized its investigation of the case is ongoing, but said, it "was the result of an accidental shooting incident involving only the agents."

The Border Patrol is planning to hold a news conference later today. The FBI titled its statement on the matter "final."

"At the appropriate time further information will be provided, but while the investigation continues it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time," the FBI's statement said.

The investigation continues, and agents are "utilizing all necessary investigative, forensic, and analytical resources in the course of this investigation," the agency said in the statement.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano traveled to Naco, Ariz. today from Washington, D.C. to meet with Ivie's family and officials at the Border Patrol station about the shooting.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona