Texas sharpshooter in copter kills 2 illegal immigrants

Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY

A red pickup is moved from the scene of after a chase between law enforcement and suspected human smugglers north of La Joya, Texas. Two people were killed after a Texas state trooper opened fire on the vehicle that was evading authorities.

A Texas state trooper firing from a helicopter killed at least two people along a rural dirt road near the Mexican border when he opened fire on a car loaded with suspected illegal immigrants that was evading authorities, The Monitor reports.

The shooting occurred along an isolated road north of La Joya Thursday afternoon.

The Associated Press reported that seven other Guatemalans in the car were arrested. One of them was injured in the shooting and sent to an area hospital.

The Monitor of McAllen said the red pickup had refused to stop at the order of a Texas state game warden.

The Department of Public Safety helicopter carrying the sharpshooter was then called in to assist in the chase, McAllen newspaper reports, quoting two unidentified law enforcement sources.

DPS spokeswoman Katherine Cesinger said only that a DPS officer "discharged a weapon" during the chase, theSan Antonio Express-Newsreports.

The Guatemalan consul in McAllen, Texas, said her government is looking into the matter, the AP reported.

Featured Weekly Ad