YUMA - A U.S. Border Patrol agent shot at two robbery suspects who tried to run him over in their car early Tuesday morning, killing one, officials said.
The agent happened upon a robbery in progress at a Circle K convenience store in Yuma at about 1 a.m., Border Patrol spokesman Ben Vik said.
When the agent tried to take the robbery suspect in custody, the man ran out the back of the store to a waiting vehicle. The two suspects drove down an alley that dead-ended, then turned around and tried to run over the agent with the car, Vik said.
"He began to fear for his life and began firing his weapon," Vik said.
One of the suspects was hit and later died at a hospital, while the second suspect is in custody, Yuma police said.
The dead man was identified as Steven Edward Martin, 21, of Yuma. The second man, Tyrone Paul Mitchell, 26, of Yuma, was booked into jail on one count of second-degree murder.
The agent, who has been with the Border Patrol for six years, was not hurt and is on paid administrative leave, as is standard for any shooting involving an agent.
"A shooting of any kind takes a pretty heavy psychological toll, so that will give him a chance to return to some semblance of normalcy," Vik said.
