Nogales Man Points Gun at Border Patrol, Gets 32 Months

NOGALES, AZ – Erik Alberto Beal, 28, of Nogales, is headed to federal prison after pointing a loaded semi-automatic handgun at a uniformed Border Patrol agent earlier this year. U.S. District Judge Angela Martinez sentenced Beal to 32 months behind bars yesterday, followed by a three-year stretch of supervised release. He previously admitted guilt to one count of Assault on a Federal Officer.

The incident unfolded on April 11, 2024, in the border city of Nogales. Two agents were tracking an individual who had illegally crossed the border when their search led them near Beal’s residence. The agents had separated to cover more ground when Beal unleashed a pit bull from his property, sending it charging toward one of the agents. The agent, fearing for his safety, drew his service weapon and verbally challenged the animal.

That’s when Beal escalated the situation. Emerging from his home, Beal retrieved a semi-automatic handgun from his truck. Witnesses – the Border Patrol agents – state Beal then chambered a round and deliberately pointed the weapon directly at the agent who had been confronting the dog. A tense standoff immediately ensued, the agent now facing a potential deadly threat from both the animal and Beal.

The situation remained volatile until the second agent arrived on scene and trained his service weapon on Beal. Only then, faced with the imminent threat of reciprocal force, did Beal comply and lower his firearm. The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office spearheaded the investigation, receiving crucial assistance from Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Micah Schmit and Serra Tsethlikai, both based in Tucson, successfully prosecuted the case, presenting evidence that led to Beal’s conviction and subsequent sentencing. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by federal law enforcement officers patrolling the border and the swift consequences for those who threaten their safety.

Case Number: 24-CR-02352-TUC-AMM-JR. Release Number: 2025-146_Beal. For more information regarding the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/. Follow them on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest updates.