Sheriff's officials released the names Friday of a 22-year-old human trafficking suspect who nearly ran down a Border Patrol agent in Alpine, and of the two agents who opened fire as he attempted to flee.
Agents Jeffery Stephenson and Edwin Guzman fired at Juan Ramon Garcia of San Diego after he narrowly missed striking another agent with his vehicle following an attempt to conduct a traffic stop in the 22000 block of Japatul Valley Road about 10 p.m. Tuesday, according to San Diego County sheriff's Lt. John Maryon.
Maryon said that shortly before the shooting, Garcia stopped and several people got out and ran. He then sped off and nearly struck an agent, at which point Stephenson and Guzman opened fire toward the vehicle.
Garcia was shot once in a hand, but continued his attempt to flee, Maryon said. An ensuing vehicle pursuit ended less than 15 minutes later in the area of westbound Interstate 8 and Tavern Road.
Garcia was treated at an area hospital for the non-life threatening injury and was taken into custody. Maryon said he was expected to face charges of assault on a federal officer and human trafficking.
Guzman had been employed by the Border Patrol for about 21 years, and Stephenson for around nine, Maryon said. Neither agent was injured.
