UPDATE: Man Shot by Border Patrol in Arizona Identified As Escaped Convicted Human Smuggler

On Tuesday morning, Border Patrol shot a man in Arizona.

The man was critically injured and transported to the hospital.

Now, more details are emerging about the incident.

It turns out that the man who was shot is an escaped convict.

His name is Patrick Gary Schlegel, and he is a 34-year-old Arizona resident with a criminal history of human smuggling.

Last year, he escaped the institution he was serving out a 36-month sentence at for transporting illegal aliens. Officers had a warrant out for his arrest.

On Tuesday, Schlegel was pulled over at a traffic stop related to an immigration operation. He fled from agents on foot before opening fire on them.

Allegedly, he also shot at a Border Patrol helicopter.

Agents fired back at Schlegel, seriously wounding him. However, he is now recovering in stable condition at the hospital after having surgery.

Here’s what we know:

UPDATE: 34yo Patrick Gary Schlegel, fugitive wanted for escaping federal custody in Dec 2025 (prior alien smuggling & felon firearm conviction), shot & seriously injured by US Border Patrol near Arivaca, AZ today.

Fled high-speed chase, fired .45 at agents & helicopter; returned fire struck him. Now stable post-surgery.

No officers hurt.

Thankfully, Schlegel was the only one injured in the shooting.

No Border Patrol agents were shot.

Schlegel is facing three criminal charges for shooting at Border Patrol agents.

NBC News has more details:

Patrick Gary Schlegel, a 34-year-old Arizona resident, was shot around 7:30 a.m. in Arivaca, about 10 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, said Heith Janke, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix field division.

Schlegel was shot after a foot chase following a traffic stop related to an “active alien smuggling matter,” Janke said during a news conference.

Earlier in the morning — before 7 a.m. — Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said, Border Patrol agents had spotted a vehicle with multiple people inside. At the time, the sheriff said, everyone fled when agents tried to make a stop.

Later, the Border Patrol agent recognized what he believed to be that vehicle and conducted a traffic stop, Nanos said. The driver — who was now the only person inside — got out and ran away, and the agent gave chase on foot, the sheriff said.

“Shots were fired from the suspect, and the agent returned fire. The suspect was hit,” Nanos said.

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A spokesperson for the sheriff’s department said by email that Schlegel shot at agents on the ground.

Janke said that at one point Schlegel fired at a manned Customs and Border Protection helicopter.

No law enforcement officers were injured, officials said.

Officials said Schleger has a “previous alien smuggling conviction.” The U.S. Marshals Service last year issued a federal arrest warrant for escape in relation to that conviction, Janke said.

Federal court records show that Schlegel was serving a 36-month sentence after pleading guilty in 2024 to one count of transportation of illegal aliens for profit and a gun possession count when he allegedly escaped last year.

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Schlegel was serving part of that sentence at an institution for people pending release, according to the criminal complaint for the escape case. He signed out to go to alcohol evaluation and counseling on Dec. 15 but never returned, according to the complaint.

Schlegel was in serious but stable condition at a hospital Tuesday afternoon, Nanos said. Janke said Schlegel successfully underwent surgery.

He is expected to be charged by criminal complaint on three federal counts, Janke said: assault on a federal officer, alien smuggling and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

Well, there goes the mainstream media’s attempt to further their anti-ICE and Border Patrol narrative…

The FBI and local sheriff held a press conference on the incident this evening.

You can watch what they had to say here:

The FBI and Pima County Sheriff held a press conference about the incident in Arivaca, Arizona. The suspect has been identified as Patrick Gary Schlegel. Authorities say Schlegel has a significant criminal history.

While Schlegel was being pursued by a CBP agent, he shot at a manned helicopter, said Authorities. At that time, the CBP agent returned fire, and then rendered emergency care. Schlegel was taken to the hospital and received treatment. He is in Federal custody and facing three charges.

Authorities explained, “any assault on law enforcement officers will not be tolerated.”