Texas Rangers are leading the investigation into the Thursday evening shooting near the Rio Grande between Rio Grande City and Roma.
RIO GRANDE CITY, TX — A U.S. Border Patrol agent shot and killed a man during a struggle Thursday evening on a rural stretch of Midway Road along the Rio Grande, authorities said. The Texas Department of Public Safety said the man was later pronounced dead at Starr County Memorial Hospital.
State officials said the Texas Rangers, a division of DPS, are investigating the shooting. The Starr County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies assisted Border Patrol at the scene and that the encounter involved a struggle before shots were fired. Authorities did not release the man’s name, age, or nationality, and did not say how many agents were present. Border Patrol confirmed agents remained on scene late Thursday as investigators secured the area. As of Saturday, no further details about the sequence of events or any injuries to agents had been released.
The shooting was reported shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Midway Road, a farm-to-market corridor that runs close to the river between Rio Grande City and Roma. DPS spokesman Lt. Chris Olivarez said in a statement that one suspect was shot and later died at the hospital, adding that the case “remains an active and ongoing investigation.” The Sheriff’s Office said the confrontation occurred near the riverbank. Local outlets reported that law enforcement asked drivers to avoid the area while first responders and investigators worked the scene.
Officials have not said what prompted the encounter or whether any weapons were recovered. DPS did not identify the agent involved, citing the active investigation. A Border Patrol spokesperson confirmed only the location and that agents responded to an incident along Midway Road. Authorities have not disclosed whether the man who died was part of a smuggling attempt or any other criminal activity, and no related arrests were announced Thursday or Friday. The agency did not provide specifics on body camera or dashboard camera footage, which remains an open question.
Starr County has seen heavy enforcement activity in recent years as federal, state and local agencies focus patrols along the river. The area sits within Texas’ broader border security push and has logged frequent pursuits and arrests tied to human smuggling and narcotics, according to public statements from DPS and local sheriffs. Officer-involved shootings along the border are uncommon but draw intense attention given the mix of federal and state jurisdictions and the proximity to densely vegetated river corridors that can complicate visibility and radio coverage.
Under standard practice in Texas, the Rangers conduct criminal investigations into shootings involving law enforcement. DPS said the Rangers will compile findings for prosecutors, who will determine whether charges are warranted. Federal internal reviews typically follow for incidents involving Border Patrol agents. Authorities did not release a timeline for completing the investigation. Any autopsy and toxicology results, along with the man’s identity, are expected to be made public through county officials once next of kin are notified.
By dusk Thursday, patrol vehicles from multiple agencies lined sections of Midway Road near the river levee as crime-scene tape marked off brushy parcels along irrigation ditches. Residents described helicopters circling low over the river bend while units repositioned on gravel turnouts. “It was all lights down the road,” said a ranch worker who passed through before the area was closed and declined to give a name. Border Patrol maintained a presence through the evening as investigators documented the site.
As of Saturday morning, DPS had not released additional details about what led to the struggle or the number of shots fired. The Rangers’ findings will be forwarded to the local district attorney once complete. Authorities said more information, including the deceased man’s identity, would be made available when appropriate.
Author note: Last updated December 13, 2025.