Repeat Offender in Arizona Border Shooting Incident Had History of Confrontations with Authorities

A man suspected of human smuggling was shot by federal agents Tuesday morning near Arivaca, Arizona, after a confrontation that involved gunfire directed at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter. Officials identified the suspect as 34-year-old Patrick Gary Schlegel, a repeat offender with a history of immigration-related crimes and violent encounters with law enforcement.

The incident began around 7:30 a.m. when authorities attempted to stop a vehicle linked to a possible human trafficking incident. Schlegel, the driver, fled on foot into the desert terrain. During the pursuit, he allegedly opened fire on pursuing Border Patrol agents and a CBP air unit. Agents returned fire, striking Schlegel. He was transported to a local hospital and is expected to survive following surgery.

According to court documents and statements from the FBI's Phoenix Division, Schlegel faces likely federal charges including assault on a federal officer, alien smuggling, and firearm possession by a felon. Heith Janke, the special agent in charge, noted Schlegel's "significant criminal history," which includes an active federal arrest warrant related to an escape following a prior smuggling conviction.

Schlegel's record reveals a pattern of confrontational behavior. In a May 2023 incident that led to his conviction for transporting illegal aliens for profit, he reportedly drove recklessly off-road to evade capture and "yelled angrily and threw rocks" at an Army National Guard helicopter. That case involved smuggling 16 individuals across the border, with migrants reporting payments totaling over $40,000. Schlegel was sentenced to three years in prison in January 2024 but was apparently out and active again by this week.

The shooting underscores the volatile and often dangerous nature of border enforcement operations in southern Arizona, a major corridor for human and drug smuggling. Pima County Sheriff Mark Nanos, addressing the incident, stated, "We're not tolerating any abuse of a law enforcement officer… but that goes for our citizens as well," emphasizing the balance between officer safety and public accountability.

Reactions & Analysis

Maria Rodriguez, Immigration Policy Analyst at the Southwest Justice Initiative: "This case is a stark example of the recidivism problem within smuggling networks. Despite prior convictions, individuals often return to these high-profit activities, risking violent encounters. It highlights the need for deeper investigation into the networks themselves, not just the low-level operatives."

James “Jim” Kellerman, Retired Border Patrol Sector Chief: "Agents face these life-and-death decisions in seconds. When someone fires on an aircraft, the threat level is extreme. This individual's history shows a blatant disregard for authority and the law, putting everyone at risk."

Rebecca Shaw, Co-founder of the Borderlands Humanitarian Coalition (sharply critical): "Another shooting, another ‘justified’ response. When does the cycle end? This man was a known offender, yet he was out and armed. This speaks to systemic failures in prosecution, rehabilitation, and our obsession with militarized border responses that inevitably lead to violence."

Professor Carl Vance, Criminology, University of Arizona: "The escalation from throwing rocks to firing a weapon at federal agents tracks with a pattern of increased aggression seen in some repeat border offenders. It suggests a dangerous normalization of violence against law enforcement in these smuggling corridors, which demands a coordinated interagency strategy."