Off-duty CBP officer 'fired 11 shots during road rage incident in El Paso'

An off-duty Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer who allegedly fired his weapon 11 times at a teenage driver during a traffic accident has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Hector Luis Zubia, 34, claims the 19-year-old driver triggered the incident in El Paso, Texas, by driving toward him and striking his truck at least twice, once on the passenger side and once in the rear of the vehicle. according to court documents.

However, law enforcement officials say his report does not match their investigation and that Zubia shot the young man, identified simply as Cardoza, as he fled the scene.

Zubia, still in uniform, told officers he was driving home after finishing his shift and leaving a port of entry at 1000 South El Paso when the alleged traffic incident began near the traffic lights at St. Vrain and Paisano in September.

The CBP officer told police that after striking his truck at least twice, Cardoza stopped his pickup on the eastbound ramp of Loop 375 in Paisano, exited the vehicle, pointed his firearm at the accuser and demanded that he to stop, according to court documents.

Zubia claimed he wanted to “make him stop and then I wanted to try to take him into custody because I don't know what's going on and why he's doing this.”

The CBP agent claimed that while he pointed his gun at the accuser, he reversed his vehicle toward Zubia, causing him to open fire.

The 19-year-old victim was later found along with his vehicle, which had damage following the incident. He told authorities that Zubia interrupted him during the incident.

The victim also alleged that Zubia stopped his truck, causing his vehicle to crash into the rear of the truck. The victim told police that he did not hear Zubia's screams, only the sound of gunfire, which caused him to flee the scene.

Investigators later interviewed a witness who said Zubia's truck appeared to be the attacker, according to court documents.

The witness also reported that he saw the victim backing up before hearing gunshots.

After inspecting both vehicles, police confirmed that the victim's car struck the rear of Zubia's vehicle. However, it was determined that the damage to the passenger side of Zubia's truck was caused by his own gunfire during the alleged road rage incident.

According to El Paso police, Zubia was released from the El Paso County Jail on $250,000 bail.

El Paso police said in a statement: “On September 6, 2024, police were called to Border Road for a reported shooting. When police arrived, they met with Zubia, who reported that another vehicle (Saturn Aura), later identified as the victim, had struck his car at least twice.

“The investigation revealed that both vehicles came to a stop on the ramp to 375 East. Zubia allegedly fired a gun at Cardoza as he drove toward him. The Crimes Against Persons Unit took over the investigation. Through their investigation, it was revealed that Zubia's accounts of what happened did not match the evidence at the crime scene.”

Newsweek CBP has reached out for comment. A message was left for Zubia's attorney outside of office hours.