A U.S. citizen and a Canadian citizen were attacked by armed individuals suspected to be Mexican cartel members in the Jacumba Wilderness area, just north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The incident occurred on Wednesday around 11 a.m., prompting a response from El Centro Sector Communications after receiving a call from the Imperial County Sheriff's Office 911 Dispatch.
U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to reports of an attack on a group of hikers. Two hikers, including one American and one Canadian, were confronted by two armed individuals who demanded compliance. When the hikers refused, shots were fired, injuring one hiker in the leg. The assailants then robbed them of their cell phones and backpacks.
The injured hiker was located and stabilized by specialized units including the Mountain Disrupt Unit, Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), and Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR). The victim was extracted via CBP Air and Marine Operations San Diego and transported to Sharp Medical Center in San Diego for treatment.
Agents maintained security at the scene while tracking the attackers back across the border into Mexico.
El Centro Sector Chief Gregory Bovino commented on the incident: “The wounded hiker is an ‘I told you so moment’ highlighting the importance of adequate infrastructure the Border Patrol has been championing for years now,” he said. He further stated that "suspected cartel terrorists" would face serious consequences for such actions in what he referred to as "the Premier Sector."
Further information about U.S. Customs and Border Protection activities can be found on their official website or social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is described as America's largest law enforcement organization with over 65,000 personnel dedicated to protecting national borders through various means including ground patrols, aerial surveillance, and maritime operations.
