Man found guilty of shooting a New Mexico Border Patrol agent
NEW MEXICO (Alamogordotownnews.com) – An El Paso man has been sentenced to federal prison for attempting to murder a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a routine immigration stop in New Mexico.
Roberto Esquivel, 25, was pulled over by a Border Patrol agent on a rural section of New Mexico Highway 146 on January 5, 2023. According to court documents, the agent approached the vehicle and noticed individuals inside who he suspected were undocumented immigrants. When the agent asked Esquivel to exit the vehicle, Esquivel shot the agent.
Officials reported that Esquivel fled the scene but lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll multiple times. He then fled on foot and discarded the gun in the desert. Law enforcement officers were able to apprehend both Esquivel and the firearm.
The Border Patrol agent survived the shooting thanks to his ballistic vest, officials said. One of the passengers required an airlift to a hospital but has since recovered from their injuries.
Esquivel was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison and will be required to complete three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
