DEA agent, gunman identified after deadly Tucson Amtrak shooting; Oct. 8 funeral arrangements set

[ad_1]

DEA agent identified killed in gunfight in Tucson

TUCSON, Aris. – police say a person is in custody and a suspect is dead after a police officer fired at a downtown Amtrak station Tuscon. A local DEA agent has died, another DEA agent is in critical condition, and a Tucson police officer is injured but in stable condition.

The shooting occurred shortly after 8 a.m. on a train parked at the downtown train station. “The incident was reported as a shooting near 400 N. Toole Avenue just after 8:00 am,” Tucson police tweeted on October 4th. “One person was arrested.”

There are no reports of injuries to the crew or passengers, said Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams.

The Sunset Limited, train 2, traveled from Los Angeles to New Orleans and arrived at Tucson station at 7:40 a.m., Abrams said. There were 137 passengers and 11 crew members, he said. All were evacuated to the train station.

What happened?

Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus said it happened when a regional task force of DEA agents and Tucson police officers conducted a routine check for illegal drugs, weapons and money.

Following advice from Amtrak, authorities announce that they have been given permission to search the luggage of Darrion Taylor and another passenger on the same row, Devonte Okeith Mathis. When an officer found two bulk packs of marijuana on the platform during an inspection, DEA supervisor Michael Garbo and another agent got back into a car to speak to Taylor.

According to authorities, Taylor opened fire, killing Garbo and wounding a second agent. Another Tucson police officer was also shot and injured.

Authorities say Taylor exchanged rounds with police before barricading himself in a lower level bathroom where he was later found dead.

The Tucson Office of the Pima County Medical Examiner announced in a press release that Taylor, 26, was shot in the torso and limbs.

The wounds were not inflicted personally, according to forensic doctor Dr. Gregory Hess. A more detailed autopsy will be completed sometime next month.

Mathis has meanwhile been arrested on suspicion of knowingly and deliberately distributing less than 50 kilograms of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana.

The agent and the officer both remain in the hospital. Their names were not published.

Amtrak’s policy does not allow firearms and ammunition to be carried, but they can be carried in checked baggage and Amtrak must be notified in advance.

Agent identified by the Arizona Governor

Governor Doug Ducey says the name of the agent who was killed at the Amtrak train station in Tucson was Michael Garbo, a group leader for the agency.

Governor Doug Ducey says the agent killed was Michael Garbo, an agency group leader.

“Garbo joined the DEA in 2005 and served as a special agent and group supervisor in the fight against drug trafficking from Nogales, Arizona to Kabul, Afghanistan for more than 16 years father and husband,” Ducey said in part in a statement.

Added: “Law enforcement personnel risk their lives every day to protect Arizona and our nation. Group Supervisor Garbo died in the service of others in this heroic duty. He dedicated his career to protecting our communities from the illicit drug trafficking and the crime that accompanies them. He will be remembered for his exceptional service and the profound influence he had on everyone who worked with him. “

On Tuesday, the governor ordered that the flags on all state buildings be lowered to half-staff until sunset on Wednesday.

Garbo’s funeral was arranged at Calvary Chapel in Tucson on October 8th.

“A law enforcement procession will leave Bring’s Broadway Chapel, 6910 E. Broadway Blvd. at 8:30 am, east on S. Harrison Rd., Then north on Speedway Blvd., then west and ending at Calvary Chapel, where Special Agent Garbo’s funeral begins at 10 p.m., “the DEA said.

Commemorative events schedule:

• 8:30 am – Law enforcement procession from Bring’s Broadway Chapel to Calvary Chapel
• 9:30 a.m. – The doors of the Calvary Chapel are open to the public
• 9:50 am – final seating
• 10:00 a.m. – memorial service
• Approximately 11:30 am – Outdoor ceremonial honors

The DEA says the church parking will be limited and the parking lot will be closed before the procession arrives.

Witnesses share their firsthand accounts

Evan Courtney was sitting in a lounge car when suddenly people came running up and yelled, “Shots fired!”

“I packed my backpack and ran,” Courtney told the Associated Press via Twitter direct messages.

He said he huddled with other passengers while looking out the window. He saw several tactical police officers with assault rifles behind barricades. After 15 minutes, “the police ran to us and told us to get out of the car and walk in the opposite direction.”

Courtney later tweeted a photo of nearly two dozen officers, including two people hugging.

A dramatic video captured by a camera at the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum shows some of the shootings.

Several shots can be heard from a train before a man who appears to be a security guard with a dog gets into the penultimate car through an open door. Two bystanders step back and then run past a luggage cart, along with four others who lead each other into the last car and the door slams, the video shows.

A shot can be heard and the security guard with a gun in hand pulls the dog out of the train while still on a leash. He is running after a building on the platform when a man appears at the car door, fires three shots at the fleeing man and the dog and disappears inside again.

The camera is owned by Virtual Railfan, which operates more than 50 cameras that stream train operations live across the country for train fans. Kathy Abbott, operations manager, said both Tucson and Amtrak police have requested footage.

Virtual Railfan’s cameras capture crime, but “maybe not as dramatically,” Abbott said. “That was definitely an adrenaline rush.”

The names of the suspects were not disclosed.

Tucson, home of the University of Arizona, is 180 kilometers south of Phoenix.

Managers react to the violence

In response to the shooting, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said, “For all of us at the Justice Department, last week was a reminder of the risks our agents, agents and local law enforcement partners face every day. I am deeply saddened by the shooting this morning in Tucson, Arizona, in which one DEA special agent was killed and another DEA agent and a Tucson Police Department task force officer were injured. “

Speaking of the incident, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said: “My condolences go out to the family and colleagues of the DEA agent who lost his life in Tucson today. Two other police officers are injured in the hospital. Our prayers are with them. their families and law enforcement agencies. “

“I am appalled to hear about the senseless violence in Tucson and the loss of a local police officer this morning. I wish the injured officers a speedy and full recovery and I send strength to all those affected and the entire Tucson community, “Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema said in a tweet.

Executives respond to fatal Amtrak shots fired on DEA agents in Tucson

DEA agent killed, 1 in custody after gunfire on Amtrak train in Tucson. were fired

Police said one person is on remand following a shooting at an Amtrak train station in downtown Tucson. (Virtual Railfan / Youtube)

Shots on Amtrak train in Tucson; DEA agent killed, 1 in custody

1 arrested after being shot at the Amtrak train station in downtown Tucson

Watch the press conference:

Tucson Amtrak shooting press conference

A local DEA agent is dead after someone opened fire on October 4 on an Amtrak train in Tucson, Arizona, causing passengers to flee, police said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Headlines in Arizona

Turn on FOX 10 Phoenix for the latest news:

Receive breaking news notifications in the FREE FOX 10 News app. Download for Apple iOS or Android.

[ad_2]