FBI will investigate agent’s death as a potential assault, offers $25K reward
The FBI in El Paso announced Tuesday a $25,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone possibly involved in the death of Border Patrol Agent Rogelio Martinez.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Emerson Buie Jr. said the FBI will investigate the death of Agent Martinez as a potential assault. “There are a number of possible scenarios, but right now, we’re going to pursue it as an assault on a federal agent,” Buie said.
EDITOR’S NOTE: ABC-7 planned to live stream the news conference on-air and on KVIA.com, but was not allowed by FBI officials who cited “security concerns.”
Victor Velasquez, the acting chief of the Border Patrol’s Big Bend Sector, said Agent Martinez was the 125th Border Patrol agent to have died in the line of duty. Velasquez said Agent Martinez’s partner is in “critical but stable condition.”
Buie added, “this is the most important investigation in the El Paso Division of the FBI.” Buie further stated, “We’ve been processing every lead. We’ve canvassed the Van Horn area and Fort Stockton.”
Investigators Monday said agent Martinez, 36, was injured late Saturday night while responding to a triggered sensor. Martinez died from the injuries he suffered early Sunday morning.
A union representing Border Patrol agents told ABC-7 Martinez’s partner called for for backup when he found Martinez injured. When the backup arrived, the partner was also found injured, the union said.
A union spokesperson said the agents were attacked with rocks. The partner, who has not been identified, has no memory of what happened, according to a U.S. official with knowledge of the investigation.
