The violent criminal past of an Arizona man shot by Border Patrol agents near the Mexico border has been revealed by his own sister, who described him as a dangerous people smuggler with no regard for human life.
Sister Condemns Brother's Actions
Patrick Gary Schlegel, a 34-year-old from Sahuarita, Arizona, was gunned down by a federal officer in Arivaca, approximately thirty miles south of Tucson. He was subsequently transported to hospital in serious but stable condition following the altercation.
Amber Schlegel, the suspect's sister, has spoken publicly to distance her brother's case from recent controversial shootings of protestors by federal agents. She stated unequivocally that her sibling deserved his fate due to his longstanding criminal activities.
'To hear that he's back running illegals again didn't surprise me, but to hear that he actually fired at federal agents – that took me by surprise,' Amber Schlegel told local news outlet 13 News. 'He is no victim. He is a violent person. That's who he always has been.'
Details of the Border Incident
According to Department of Justice statements, the confrontation occurred when agents attempted to detain Schlegel for alleged people smuggling activities. The suspect is accused of discharging a firearm at a US Customs and Border Protection helicopter that was assisting in his apprehension on Tuesday morning.
Court documents reveal Schlegel was initially spotted driving a Dodge Ram pickup approximately ten miles north of the US-Mexico border on Monday. He was already wanted on an active warrant for escape from a previous human smuggling conviction.
When agents attempted to stop his vehicle, Schlegel fled before eventually stopping to release two male passengers identified as Alfonso Isidrio-Carrillo and Jeronimo Rosado-Garcia. Both individuals were taken into custody, while Schlegel managed to escape temporarily.
Dramatic Desert Pursuit
The following morning around 7am, agents relocated Schlegel's truck. The suspect abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot into the nearby desert terrain. Border Patrol deployed a helicopter to track his movements, at which point Schlegel allegedly fired multiple rounds at the aircraft.
An agent responded by shooting Schlegel, resulting in injuries to his leg and head. Law enforcement officials later recovered a .45 caliber pistol and a mobile phone from the scene.
US Attorney Timothy Courchaine issued a strong statement regarding the incident: 'There is no ambiguity here, shooting at any law enforcement officer - including federal agents - is a violent felony that attacks the rule of law and undermines universal American values.'
Smuggling Operations Exposed
Amber Schlegel provided disturbing details about her brother's criminal enterprise, revealing he had been smuggling undocumented migrants across the border for an extended period while putting their lives at risk through dangerous methods.
'I don't care how people feel about (illegals), they're people,' she stated. 'He could have killed them with no care.'
The sister disclosed that she had previously obtained a protective order against her brother after he threatened her for speaking out against his activities. 'He's where he should be,' she concluded. 'Whether he recovers or not, he needs to be locked up for a very long time.'
Financial Aspects of Smuggling Ring
Investigators uncovered financial details of Schlegel's operation through interviews with the detained migrants. Jeronimo Rosado-Garcia admitted paying $8,000 to be smuggled into the United States, while Alfonso Isidrio-Carrillo revealed he had paid $14,000 for the same service.
Contrast with Recent Protestor Deaths
This incident follows two high-profile shootings of anti-ICE protestors by federal agents in Minneapolis during January. Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was killed during a scuffle at a protest on January 24th, while Renee Nicole Good, also 37, was fatally shot by an ICE agent on January 7th.
Both victims were reportedly protesting against increasingly aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. Their deaths have sparked significant public demonstrations and intensified scrutiny of Department of Homeland Security operations.
Amber Schlegel explicitly distinguished her brother's shooting from these cases, emphasizing that while the protestors' deaths raised legitimate concerns about law enforcement conduct, her brother's violent resistance justified the response from Border Patrol agents.
Official Response and Community Safety
US Attorney Courchaine praised the coordinated response from Arizona law enforcement agencies, stating: 'The quick and coordinated reaction to the threat posed by this subject from all levels of Arizona law enforcement was key and demonstrates why local and federal cooperation keeps communities safer.'
The Department of Justice has committed to pursuing all available charges against Schlegel to ensure full accountability under federal law for his alleged actions against federal officers and his smuggling operations.
