DEA agent killed in Amtrak train shooting in Arizona

One federal agent has been killed and another is in critical condition following a shooting on an Amtrak train in Tucson, Arizona. The shooting erupted as officers searched for guns and drugs.

Officials said the violence began as a showdown on the train between two DEA agents and a suspect.

“They were looking for illegal guns, money, drugs, that’s something they do, like I said, on a regular basis,” Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus said.

But this time it turned deadly.

When the first barrage of shots was fired, onlookers didn’t know what was going on until they saw a K-9 officer running towards the shooter. Then someone shouted, “Get out of here! Get out of here!” before more shots started.

The officer backed off the train and ran for his life as the gunman shot him. The shooting continued, bullets ricocheting around the railroad depot in downtown Tucson.

The train, which runs from Los Angeles to New Orleans, was carrying 137 passengers and 11 crew and arrived in Tucson around 8 a.m. No crew or passengers were injured, an Amtrak spokesperson said.

Special Agent in Charge Sherry Oz said that in addition to the deceased agent and the agent in critical condition, an officer in the task force is also in stable condition.

The suspected gunman was found dead on the train and a second suspect was arrested, Magnus said. He said he did not know whether the alleged shooter was killed by law enforcement or if he had committed suicide.

The FBI “is dealing with the scene with the assistance of the ATF and Tucson PD,” the office said in a statement. The investigation is ongoing.