A federal agent died and two other law enforcement officers were injured in a shooting on an Amtrak train at a station Monday morning in Tucson, Arizona.
Members of a regional narcotics "alliance" of local and federal authorities were conducting a routine check on a stationary train when a man opened fire, Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus said Monday. Authorities were detaining another man on the train's upper deck when the shooter pulled out a handgun, he said. "The suspect, after exchanging rounds with the officers, barricaded himself in the bathroom, which is on the lower level. ... Ultimately it was determined that the suspect in the bathroom was, in fact, deceased," Magnus said.
The man who was detained remains in custody, Magnus said. Authorities identified no suspects.
A Drug Enforcement Administration agent was killed in the exchange, said Cheri Oz, special agent in charge of the DEA's Phoenix division. Another agent was in critical condition. A Tucson police officer who rushedto help after hearing shots was stable, Magnus said.
The "shooting incident" on the train from Los Angeles occurred at about 7:40 a.m. local time, Amtrak said in a statement. None of the 137 passengers and 11 crew members, who all evacuated into the station, were reported to have been injured.
"We at the DEA are heartbroken by today’s events and ask that you keep the families of the agents and task force officer in your thoughts and prayers," DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said in a statement.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland also said he was deeply saddened by the deadly shooting, as well as the death of Deputy U.S. Marshal Jared Keyworth, who died Friday from injuries from a vehicle accident in a law enforcement operation in Mississippi three days earlier.
"We are grateful for the courage and selfless sacrifice of these heroes, and I join the entire Justice Department in conveying our support and deepest sympathies to their families," Garland said.
Don't know about Amtrak but DEA and/or PA State Drug task force have often checked the Greyhound buses when they are taking rest breaks along the interstates. They used dogs to sniff the luggage. They had a lot of success with it in my county for quite awhile at the rest stop that all the NYC buses then used both heading east & west on I-80. Then about 10 years ago the rest stop was switched to 60 miles west and I don't know what is currently happening.
BaltACD, I would expect the authorities had 'actionable intellegence'
I have similar suspicions. It's just the generic way the story mentions illegal money, weapons, or drugs....made me wonder if something more "routine" might have been at work.
Could be that a fellow passenger might have spotted the weapon, and reported it?
Convicted Onehttps://abcnews.go.com/US/dea-agent-killed-officers-hurt-shooting-aboard-amtrak/story?id=80397780 Is this customary for police to screen "in transit" Amtrak trains for illegal weapons, money, and drugs? First I've ever heard of it.
Is this customary for police to screen "in transit" Amtrak trains for illegal weapons, money, and drugs? First I've ever heard of it.
I don't know. That being said, I would expect the authorities had 'actionable intellegence' in making their move. The element of surprise is generally an advantage in such confrontations. Beyond that I know squat.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
https://abcnews.go.com/US/dea-agent-killed-officers-hurt-shooting-aboard-amtrak/story?id=80397780
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