The illegal alien reported to be responsible for the death of a Florida sheriff’s deputy had been previously deported and illegally reentered through Texas.
Nassau County Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Oliver was killed Tuesday morning when he attempted to catch an illegal alien fleeing on foot. The deputy accidentally ran in front of an SUV and was fatally injured. The fleeing illegal alien was later identified as Francisco Obbidio Portillo-Fuentes, 25, a Salvadoran national.
Breitbart Texas learned that Portillo-Fuentes had previously been deported from the United States following a DUI conviction. He reentered the U.S. near Laredo, Texas, on November 19, according to Miami Sector Division Chief Todd Bryant.
Three days later, Portillo-Fuentes was found in Yulee, Florida. Deputy Oliver is survived by his 6-year-old daughter.
Nassau County Deputy Eric Oliver with his 6-year-old daughter.
Oliver responded with another deputy to assist a Border Patrol agent who was investigating six men in a truck. The agent identified three of the men as illegal aliens and took them into custody. As the deputies and the agent were putting the men into the patrol vehicles, Portillo-Fuentes allegedly took off running to avoid apprehension.
Deputy Oliver instinctively gave chase but was struck by an SUV as he attempted to cross the roadway. He died on the scene from his injuries, Breitbart Texas reported on Wednesday. “When the individual bolted, their instinct was to go after them, and they did that. It’s unfortunate what happened,” Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper explained to local reporters.
“It looked like there was nothing she could do,” Leeper told News4Jax.
The two remaining men fled the scene in the pickup truck. They were found and arrested a short time later. Portillo-Fuentes was also eventually captured about 12 hours later.
Chief Todd confirmed to Breitbart Texas on Wednesday afternoon that all six men were illegal aliens from a variety of countries.
Portillo-Fuentes “had been deported from the U.S. on two separate occasions and is being held on felony reentry into the U.S. by Border Patrol at this time,” Sheriff Leeper said Wednesday afternoon in a written statement obtained by Breitbart Texas.
Information is not currently available as to why Portillo-Fuentes traveled from Laredo to Florida so quickly after reentering the U.S. He could face additional penalties in connection with Deputy Oliver’s death after he fled the scene to avoid being apprehended.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.