- The Washington Times - Saturday, March 21, 2015

Federal and local authorities are investigating a fatal shooting by a U.S. Border Patrol Agent along the U.S./Canada border in Washington State.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the agent fired when a suspected “illegal border crosser” assaulted him during a patrol on Thursday, CNN reported Saturday.

The suspect was confronted by two Border Patrol agents after setting off sensors while trying to cross illegally into the U.S. The man refused to obey the agents’ commands and attacked one of the agents with pepper spray.

The incident occurred near the Huntington Border Crossing, which connects the cities of Sumas, Washington, and Abbotsford, British Columbia.

The suspect was reportedly shot in the head, according to The Bellingham Herald newspaper.

“The agent had been hit by pepper spray but wasn’t seriously injured, according to police radio traffic,” the newspaper said.

Investigators revealed on Saturday that the man was wanted for murder and that they found a hatchet in his backpack, CNN reported.

• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.

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