DEA agent killed, another injured along with Tucson police officer in shooting at Amtrak station

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TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) – A DEA agent was killed in a gunfight at the downtown Amtrak train station early Monday, October 4th, while another was injured along with a Tucson Police Department officer.

Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus said the suspect was found dead on the train and a second suspect was taken into custody.

Magnus said it started around 8 a.m. when the Counter Narcotics Alliance boarded the train for a routine check for money, drugs and firearms.

He said CNA made contact with two people on the second level of the double-decker train. One suspect was taken into custody while the second, a Hispanic man in his 20s or 30s, pulled out a handgun and started shooting.

Magnus said a DEA agent was shot and died. A second agent was also shot and taken to Banner UMC in critical condition.

“I am deeply saddened to have to confirm that a special agent died as a result of injuries sustained in the shooting. a second DEA special agent is in critical condition; and one task force officer is in stable condition, ”said Cheri Oz, special agent in the Charge of the Phoenix Division. “Thank you for keeping the DEA in your thoughts and prayers.”

A TPD officer was also injured in the shooting after rushing to the train to help when he heard the gunfire. Magnus said the officer is in stable condition and is expected to survive.

The suspect was later found dead after barricading himself in a toilet on the train. Magnus didn’t know if the suspect was shot dead by agents or took his own life.

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero ordered that flags in all municipal facilities should be lowered to half the staff for the agent and officer.

The shooting that took place at our downtown train station this morning was an utterly shocking act of violence.

I command flags to half of the staff at all municipal facilities to honor the courageous deeds of the deceased and injured.

Full explanation: pic.twitter.com/NfqWt5Txpy

– Regina Romero (@TucsonRomero) October 4, 2021

Governor Doug Ducey also said in a statement later that day that he had offered condolences to the relatives and colleagues of the killed agent and sent his prayers to the families and colleagues of the two officers who were shot.

An eyewitness told KOLD News 13 that two men on the train came up to another man and said they wanted to speak to him. All three got off the train and shots were fired.

According to the Associated Press, the train ran from Los Angeles to New Orleans and arrived in Tucson at 7:40 a.m.

The train, Sunset Limited / Texas Eagle Train 2/422, is being held in Tucson for investigation. It was supposed to go to Benson and Del Rio, Texas. According to Amtrak, drivers can call 1-800-USA-RAIL for help.

Evan Courtney tweeted a photo of the scene of two police officers hugging.

KOLD’s Dan Marries was there when a person was taken into custody. It is not yet known if this person is the second suspect in the shooting.

The TPD urges residents to avoid Toole from North Fourth Avenue to North Sixth.

Marries said the Ronstadt Center near the train station was evacuated and closed early that morning. He said at least 84 Amtrak passengers were loaded onto buses at the Ronstadt.

At around 5:30 p.m., Sun Tran announced that the Ronstadt Center had reopened, but passengers should expect delays in the evening. Normal service operations should resume the next morning, Sun Tran said.

Sun Link said the tram was “temporarily unable to reach downtown and the Mercado stops. The service is still available for the stations 4th Ave, University, 2nd St & Helen. “

City High School, located near the crime scene at 47 East Pennington Street, was closed but was lifted at 9:45 a.m.

None of the passengers or staff on the train were injured.

ATF agents were in downtown Tucson early Monday, October 4th, following an incident at the Amtrak train station.(KOLD-News 13)

Copyright 2021 KOLD News 13. All rights reserved.

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