Suspect in Sierra Blanca border checkpoint shooting shot dead

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) -- A suspect is dead following an officer-involved shooting on Wednesday, March 4, near Kent, Texas, after a suspect fled from a border checkpoint and opened fire on law enforcement and other civilian vehicles. At around 10:30 a.m. CT, the Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Highway Patrol Troopers and Aircraft Operations Division pilots were called to assist in a high-speed pursuit involving a vehicle that fled a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint along Interstate 10 in Sierra Blanca, Texas DPS Sergeant Eliot Torres said. Video captured on social media showed multiple units of the Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Border Patrol appearing to chase another vehicle. In another shot of the incident, Border Patrol and Texas DPS units are seen in the right-hand lane in front of the Mile Marker 176 sign. Traffic is snarled with semi-trucks, and a helicopter was seen on scene. The driver of the fleeing vehicle, later identified as 33-year-old James Douglas McMillan of Greenfield, Wisconsin, took off from the checkpoint after a drug K-9 alerted agents to the vehicle and agents directed McMillan to pull over for a secondary search. It was noted that McMillan was the only person in the vehicle. During the pursuit, McMillan began shooting out of the window at DPS Troopers, Culberson and Hudspeth County Sheriff's Office deputies, Border Patrol Tactical Unit and at civilian vehicles indiscriminately, Torres said. As law enforcement returned fire, DPS Troopers performed a precision immobilization technique maneuver to successfully stop the vehicle. McMillan barricaded himself in the vehicle and "eventually pointed his weapon towards officers," Torres said. Officers then discharged their weapons; McMillan was shot and killed by law enforcement. No law enforcement officers or civilians were injured. The investigation led to the discovery that McMillan's vehicle was reported stolen out of Arizona. This is an active and ongoing investigation by the Texas Rangers, with aid from the FBI and Border Patrol. No additional information is available at this time. There is no further threat to the community. Motorists are being asked to avoid I-10 near Kent as traffic is being impacted as investigators remain on scene.