Border Officer Opens Fire, Wounding Driver at Nogales DeConcini Crossing

The Dennis DeConcini border crossing in downtown Nogales, Arizona, remains closed following a shooting incident involving a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer on Wednesday afternoon. The officer shot a man as he attempted to force his way into Mexico. The injured individual was subsequently airlifted to a Tucson hospital for medical treatment.

A spokesperson for CBP confirmed the incident and noted that the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility, alongside the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, is conducting an inquiry. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General has been notified.

As of now, specific details regarding the incident are limited, but further information is expected to be released. The Nogales Police Department announced the closure of the border crossing around 3:30 p.m., specifying that it would remain shut until further notice.

Officials urged travelers to utilize the Mariposa Port of Entry, advising that both vehicle and pedestrian crossings through DeConcini are currently closed. In a statement, Sgt. Oscar Mesta, a spokesperson for the Nogales Police, indicated that a police incident had occurred at the port, deferring any additional inquiries to CBP officials.

Despite the closure of southbound lanes, some northbound traffic was observed continuing through the crossing by late Wednesday afternoon. Webcam footage in Sonora revealed limited traffic movement in the port area. Local reporter César Barrón reported that firefighters attended to an injured individual, confirming the ongoing closure of the border crossing.

This incident is not isolated. In 2019, a CBP officer shot a man, Angel Mendivil Perez, at the same border crossing, resulting in a lawsuit claiming that the use of deadly force was excessive. That case was ultimately dismissed in October 2024, with no party responsible for legal costs.

The DeConcini crossing is a critical hub for commerce and travel, with over 9.4 million vehicles and over 22 million individuals crossing through Nogales in 2022. This data underscores the significance of border checkpoints in the region, which also includes the pedestrian-only Morley crossing and the more modern Mariposa crossing.