An illegal immigrant from Mexico allegedly yelled “f*ck you” shortly before assaulting an El Centro Sector Border Patrol agent with a broken lawnmower blade. The agent was seated in her patrol vehicle near the border fence when the attack began and sustained minor injuries.
A Calexico Station agent patrolling the border fence in the town of Calexico, California, observed a man approaching her marked duty vehicle on Tuesday morning. As the man came closer, he allegedly shouted “f*ck you!” and produced a broken lawnmower blade. He then threw it through the closed window of her patrol car striking the agent, according to a criminal complaint obtained from the FBI by Breitbart News.
The force of the blade shattered the window. The agent reacted by raising her left hand, stopping the piece of steel from striking her head. The alleged assault caused minor injuries to the agent’s arms and face, officials stated. As the alleged attacker fled, the agent gave chase. Other responding agents managed to take the man into custody.
Officials identified the alleged attacker as 33-year-old Josue Gomez-Reyes, an illegal immigrant from Mexico. A statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection alleges the man is also a gang member. The name of the gang was not disclosed.
The injured Border Patrol agent told the FBI that she was seated in her marked patrol vehicle near 1st Street in Calexico. She said the suspected pulled the steel blade from his pants pocket and threw it directly at her head.
Gomez-Reyes allegedly told the FBI agent that he knew the victim was a Border Patrol agent and that he intended to cause her injury. He said he chose the hunk of steel instead of a rock because “he thought it would be more effective.” He also said that he illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico on March 3 with the intent of being arrested and sent to prison, according to the complaint.
“It is unacceptable for our Border Patrol agents to come under such a violent attack, but I am extremely proud of the quick determination of our agent to give chase and arrest her attacker,” El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez said in a written statement. “Our agent was ambushed while faithfully carrying out her sworn duties as a law enforcement officer by a gang member with a lengthy criminal history here in the United States. Anytime a person chooses to attack a Border Patrol agent, they will know that they are going up against a highly trained professional and that once arrested they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Border Patrol officials told Breitbart News in response to an inquiry that the tattoos displayed on Gomez-Reyes’ body suggest and affiliation with the Surenos gang. FBI officials would not confirm or deny the gang affiliation mentioned by Chief Chavez in her written statement.
Border Patrol agents are reported to be among the most assaulted of all federal law enforcement officers. During Fiscal Year 2018, 683 agents were assaulted in the line of duty, according to a report released on Tuesday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This accounts for 86 percent of all reported assaults against law enforcement officers operating under the umbrella of CBP.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with additional information from a criminal complaint obtained from the FBI.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for the Breitbart Border team. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and Facebook.