Prosecutor: Brian Terry Died of Single Gunshot Wound

On December 14, 2010, Border Agent Brian Terry was shot and killed by drug smugglers north of the Arizona/Mexico border. He was hit once and pronounced dead at the scene. Two rifles from Operation Fast & Furious, an ATF gun walking operation, were recovered from the crime scene.

On February 4, 2014, new details into what unfolded that night were revealed. 

According to News 4 Tucson, Terry and his fellow agents were stilling atop a ravine using night vision goggles to “see rip-off crew members were carrying rifles and [the agents] waited until the men were close before someone yelled ‘police’ in Spanish.” At that point the gunman “turned toward the agents and started to fire, setting of an exchange of gunfire that killed Agent Brian Terry and wounded acknowledged rip-off crew member Manuel Osorio–Arellanes.”

Following the exchange of gunfire, Terry said, “I’m hit.” He told his teammates that he couldn’t feel his legs. Terry then lost consciousness and “died at the scene from a single gunshot wound.” 

On February 3rd, Osorio–Arellanes pleaded guilty to “first degree murder in Terry’s death.” Although two Fast & Furious rifles were found at the scene, U.S. authorities “declined to say whether the murder weapon in Terry’s death was linked” to Fast & Furious.

Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins.