Family member says Patrick Schlegel has a violent history as county and federal investigators review the agent’s use of force.
TUCSON, AZ — The sister of an Arizona man wounded by a U.S. Border Patrol agent near Arivaca said her brother is “no victim,” pushing back on sympathy as authorities detail a chase and gunfire in the desert early Tuesday, Jan. 27. The man, identified as Patrick Gary Schlegel, 34, remained hospitalized in serious but stable condition. No agents were hurt.
Authorities say the shooting followed an attempted traffic stop tied to alleged human smuggling in rural Pima County, about 30 miles south of Tucson. The case now sits with two investigative tracks: the Pima County Sheriff’s Department is examining the agent’s use of force at the request of the FBI, while federal agents are pursuing criminal charges against Schlegel. The sister’s remarks added an unusual family voice to a tense border enforcement episode that has already stirred a small protest and renewed scrutiny of recent use-of-force cases in Southern Arizona.
Charging documents outline a sequence that began Monday, Jan. 26, when agents spotted a Dodge Ram linked to Schlegel, who had an active federal warrant related to an escape from custody. When agents tried to stop the pickup, it drove off, then halted so two men could get out. Those men were detained and identified as Alfonso Isidrio-Carrillo and Jeronimo Rosado-Garcia. Investigators say Rosado-Garcia told them he paid $8,000 to be smuggled across the border, while Isidrio-Carrillo said he paid $14,000. By around 7 a.m. Tuesday, agents again caught up with the truck. Schlegel ran into open desert as a Customs and Border Protection helicopter tracked overhead. A ground agent then opened fire after Schlegel allegedly shot several rounds toward the aircraft. Agents recovered a .45 caliber handgun and a cellphone, according to the documents. “To hear that he actually fired at federal agents took me by surprise,” Schlegel’s sister, Amber Schlegel, said in an interview.
Officials identified the location as near Arivaca Road in a sparsely populated stretch northwest of the small community of Arivaca. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said his department would handle the use-of-force review the same as prior cases, noting the standard process for interviewing witnesses, collecting ballistic evidence, and reconstructing the timeline. FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said the bureau is leading the federal criminal investigation and emphasized that assaults on officers would be pursued aggressively. Investigators also noted that no federal personnel were injured during the pursuit or shooting. Agents said a firearm was found with Schlegel after he was struck in the leg and head and that medics transported him to a Tucson hospital. Authorities have not released the name of the Border Patrol agent who fired, citing the ongoing investigation. The status of the helicopter crew was described as safe.
Records cited by investigators show a lengthy history for Schlegel. He pleaded guilty in November 2023 to transporting migrants for profit and to being a felon in possession of a firearm, receiving a 36-month sentence. He was later assigned to serve a portion of that time at Dismas Charities, a Tucson reentry center on South Richey Boulevard. According to federal documents, he signed out for counseling on Dec. 17, 2025, and did not return, prompting the warrant that was still active this week. Local authorities said Dismas Charities has seen other walkaways in the past two years, highlighting recurring concerns about supervision at the facility. Investigators say Schlegel is from Sahuarita, a town south of Tucson, and that he was known to area law enforcement due to prior cases.
Officials said Schlegel will face charges that include aggravated assault on a federal officer, alien smuggling, and felon in possession of a firearm. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigations Division is gathering reports, video, and forensic results for the use-of-force file. The FBI is coordinating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on the criminal case. No hearing date has been announced. Standard procedure places the agent who fired on administrative status during the inquiry, though Border Patrol did not immediately confirm the agent’s current assignment. Authorities have not said how many rounds were fired by the agent, how far he was from Schlegel when he shot, or how many shots were allegedly aimed at the helicopter.
In a recorded interview with 13 News, Amber Schlegel described a strained family history and said she had previously sought an order of protection after threats she attributed to her brother. “He is a violent person. That is who he always has been,” she said. She added that, in her view, he put migrants and officers at risk during this week’s incident. “I do not care how people feel. They are people,” she said, arguing that fleeing through the desert with passengers in tow showed disregard for their safety. Near the scene Tuesday evening, a handful of residents and activists gathered to protest federal enforcement practices. One participant said the demonstration reflected broader concerns about immigration and policing, not only this case. Sheriff Nanos acknowledged the frustration and said his office investigates every use of force seriously.
As of Wednesday night, Schlegel remained under guard at a hospital in Tucson listed in serious but stable condition. The Sheriff’s Department said updates on the investigative timeline will follow once interviews, ballistics, and evidence reviews are complete. The FBI said federal charging decisions will be announced by prosecutors. Authorities did not give a timetable. The next visible step is expected to be a first court appearance if doctors clear Schlegel for transport.
Author note: Last updated January 29, 2026.