Nine-year-old twins Isaac and Rebecca Alvarado with an image of the their mother, Valeria Tachiquin-Alvarado, who was shot and killed Sept. 28, 2012, by a border agent in Chula Vista, Calif. (Nick Oza /The Republic)

More border agents assisting local police

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Critics say federal agents often lack training for domestic police work
By Rob O’Dell and Bob Ortega

Part 1: Wall of silence
Part 2: Video of death, little reaction
Part 3 of 3
 

On the afternoon of March 15, 2011, at least five Border Patrol agents and another federal agent went with Sierra Vista police officers to conduct a “knock and talk” at a house in a neighborhood where police suspected a human-smuggling operation. After agents knocked on the front screen door, a white Chevy Suburban smashed out through the garage door, rammed into law-enforcement vehicles and drove at officers, according to Sierra Vista police reports. Federal agents fired 10 shots at the vehicle, and Sierra Vista officers fired once, with several bullets hitting the vehicle. The drivers escaped, and the Suburban was later found on a mountain in nearby Fort Huachuca. No one was hurt, but neighbors hid during the shooting, and a stray bullet struck a nearby Hyundai Santa Fe and was later found in the back seat, the police report said.