Man armed with a rifle shot dead after opening fire at a Texas Border Patrol station.
A tragic incident unfolded in McAllen, Texas, early Monday morning, when a lone gunman opened fire on a Border Patrol station, resulting in three law enforcement officers being injured. The shooter, identified as 27-year-old Ryan Louis Mosqueda, was killed at the scene by responding officers.
The violent episode began before 6 a.m. when Mosqueda unleashed a barrage of gunfire towards the facility, prompting a swift response from local law enforcement. McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez stated that it remains unclear how many rounds were discharged. However, he emphasized the intensity of the assault, describing it as a significant volume of gunfire directed at both the building and the agents stationed within.
Among the injured officers was Ismael Garcia, who has served with the McAllen Police Department for over a decade. Chief Rodriguez later confirmed that Garcia sustained a knee injury but is expected to recover fully.
Authorities reported that Mosqueda was associated with an address in Michigan, as evidenced by the Michigan license plates on his vehicle. A stash of ammunition and additional firearms were discovered in the vehicle, although no explosives were found in the aftermath of the confrontation.
Further investigations revealed that Mosqueda was also linked to a location in Weslaco, Texas, which is situated close to McAllen. Notably, the shooter was reported missing earlier that morning around 4 a.m.
The vehicle belonging to Mosqueda bore the spray-painted phrase “Cordis Die,” a Latin expression translated as “on the day of the heart.” This phrase is also recognized as the name of an adversarial faction in the popular video game Call of Duty: Black Ops II, released in 2012. Chief Rodriguez indicated that the significance of this message is still unknown and uncertain if it holds any relevance to the motivations behind Mosqueda’s actions.
As the investigation is underway, the FBI has taken charge of the case due to the nature of the attack on federal officers and a federal facility. The police chief commented on the possibility of premeditated intent, remarking that the act of driving into a secure area and initiating gunfire suggests some level of planning, though he could not ascertain the exact timeframe of any intent.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding the safety of law enforcement officers and the unpredictability of violence directed at federal facilities. The McAllen shooting serves as a critical reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement in safeguarding both themselves and the communities they serve.
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