Civil trial over Border Patrol shooting begins - Arizona Daily Star

A civil trial is underway in federal court over the 2011 deadly shooting of a U. S. citizen in Douglas by a Border Patrol agent. The family of Carlos LaMadrid, 19, is suing the federal government for an unspecified amount for what it considers to be unjustified and excessive use of force. The attorneys for LaMadrid’s mother, Guadalupe Guerrero , argued Monday before U. S. District Judge James Soto that Border Patrol agent Lucas Tidwell shot LaMadrid at close range when he was climbing a ladder back to Mexico. “It’s not disputed that Tidwell shot and killed LaMadrid by four shots to his back as he was climbing the ladder propped up against the international fence,” said attorney Bill Risner. And there’s ample evidence to prove it, he said, including radio calls, videotapes, independent witnesses, LaMadrid’s cellphone and the rocks thrown at the agent. The pursuit that led to the shooting began about noon on March 21, 2011, when someone reported to Douglas police that a gold Chevrolet Avalanche was loaded with bundles of marijuana. Police officers saw LaMadrid’s truck and started following him, but he sped toward the border until he collided with a Border Patrol agent’s SUV. Source: tucson.com