A person was shot in an incident involving federal agents in southern Arizona on Tuesday afternoon. The individual is in custody and was listed in critical condition after he was taken to the hospital.
FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said Patrick Gary Schlegel, 34, a resident of Arizona and an American citizen, is under federal custody.
Schlegel’s vehicle was spotted by federal agents in the morning. When agents attempted to stop the car, which the sheriff said had other occupants hidden, Schlegel fled. Later in the day, agents again spotted Schlegel, who decided to pull over and flee on foot.
What charges will Schlegel face?
Federal agents who believed Schlegel was involved in human trafficking chased after him.
“Shortly thereafter, shots were fired from the suspect and the agent returned fire,” said Sheriff Chris Nanos during a press briefing at the Pima County Sheriff’s Department headquarters on Tuesday evening.
According to Janke, “Schlegel has a significant criminal history (including) an active federal arrest warrant issued in 2025 by the U.S. Marshals Service for escape related to a previous federal alien smuggling conviction.”
He is expected to face three charges related to assault on a federal officer, alien smuggling and felon in possession of a firearm.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department in an initial statement, said it responded “to a shooting involving U.S. Border Patrol in Arivaca,” about 50 miles from Tucson and 11 miles from the U.S. Mexico border. The local authorities were working with the FBI Phoenix-Tucson office and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Anti-ICE protests ramp up in Arizona
The presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents has ramped up in Phoenix in recent days.
On Monday, federal law enforcement agents reportedly swarmed 15 locations of a restaurant, Zipps Sports Grill, in Phoenix.
The agents had search warrants connected to a monthslong criminal investigation, as ABC15 reported. The incident sparked anti-ICE protests that have continued through Tuesday.
These protests in Arizona and nationwide come after the high-profile killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti involving federal agents in Minneapolis earlier in January.
Arizona officials react to recent incidents
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, in a statement on X Tuesday, said she was aware of the presence of federal agents at the Zipps restaurants in the Valley.
“I share the feelings of many Arizonans who are devastated by the horrific killing of protesters in Minnesota and understand the fear and pain it has created in our communities,” said Hobbs.
“We are in contact with federal officials and still gathering information on the purpose and scope of the raid,” she said. She expressed her frustrations in dealing “with the Trump administration’s lack of adequate notification when conducting high-profile enforcement activities.”
“Now more than ever, it is critical for federal law enforcement to work with state and local officials to build community trust and ensure the safety of law enforcement personnel and members of our community,” she said.
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., called U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol’s actions — the “shoving, beating, pepper spraying and shooting people in violation of their constitutional rights” — unacceptable.
“Yesterday they did a drive-by in Arizona and sprayed a woman in the face with mace,” Kelly alleged, calling for reform of the agency.
“The American people shouldn’t have to fear their own government,” Kelly added.