⏱ 2 min read
A human smuggler’s estate and two undocumented aliens claimed a Border Patrol agent used excessive force during a high-speed chase on May 14, 2021, but a San Diego federal judge disagreed. Silvestre Estrada, the smuggler, was fatally shot after driving towards agents in a threatening manner.
The chase began when agents spotted Estrada’s vehicle on State Route 94, picking up Francisco and Jaime Madariaga, two cousins with Mexican citizenship. Initially, Estrada pulled over but sped off when agents approached, sparking a four-mile, six-minute pursuit.
During the chase, Estrada swerved through multiple lanes, reaching speeds over 80 miles per hour. The Madariagas testified they were frightened, fearing an accident. Ultimately, Estrada’s vehicle entered a Circle K gas station, where agents opened fire, killing Estrada.
US District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia ruled that the Border Patrol agents’ use of force was reasonable, given the rapidly evolving situation. The judge found that less-than-lethal alternatives were not viable and that deadly force was justified to protect the agents’ safety.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: San Diego
- Location: CA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
