A scenic hike quickly turned traumatic for an American hiker and his Canadian friend when they were shot and robbed by suspected Mexican cartel terrorists.
The hikers were wandering through California's Jacumba Wilderness, about 1,000 feet north of the U.S.-Mexico border when they were approached by two armed individuals, according to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The bandits started shouting at them in Spanish and the hikers replied that they did not understand them.
Fearing for their lives, the hikers refused to follow the armed individuals and tried to get away.
It was then that the attackers fired a round of shots, hitting one of the hikers in the leg.
The attackers then took advantage of the vulnerable hikers and robbed them of their backpacks and phones.
Fortunately, the Imperial County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call reporting the incident and Border Patrol agents in the El Centro sector responded to assist the hiker.
About an hour after the 911 call was made, the Mountain Disruption, Border Patrol Tactical Unit and Border Patrol Search, and Rescue located the victim in the wilderness.
The hiker was shot and suffered an injury to his leg. He is seen being bundled into a helicopter
Border Patrol agents from multiple units responded to reports of a gunshot wound in a remote hiking trail
Authorities were able to stabilize the victim and airlifted to a nearby medical center in San Diego for treatment.
Border Patrol agents returned the Bandits to Mexico, but no further information about their identities has been released.
“The injured hiker is an 'I told you so' that highlights the importance of adequate infrastructure that the Border Patrol has been championing for years now,” Sector Chief Gregory Bovino said in a statement.
“However, suspected cartel terrorists have been identified to be told that this type of behavior will be an endgame type of activity here in the first sector. All threats, anywhere or at any time in this sector will be vigorously addressed. '
Bovino also shared a video of the officers responding to the scene on his X account. Several officials strapped with weapons and protective equipment can be seen holding the victim and taking him to a helicopter.
'Cartels think they can bring their war here. Think again! Americans will not be intimidated,” he wrote.
“Our agents & Bortac will face these threats!”
The US Border Patrol El Centro sector also reposted the video on their Facebook account with a message to cartel terrorists.
Let this serve as a warning: the El Centro sector will not stand idly by. The safety of our citizens is not negotiable; Cartel terrorists have no place in our country preying on the innocent. Enough is enough,” the message read.
The hikers were found on a trail in the Jacumba Wilderness
The victims were walking along an area called Valley of the Moon.
According to investigative reporting from the Associated Press, illegal migration increased in California in 2024 due to Texas Governor Greg Abbott's border plan.
Migration patterns have shown migrants from Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and China moving into Tijuana and crossing the border into San Diego.
In 2024, the New York Times reported that at least seven migrant areas were being built on the California border, including an outdoor holding area in Valley of the Moon.
However, attacks on American hikers in this area are rare, with reporting from the Washington Post citing that migrants are at greater risk of attack by groups of armed bandits.
Groups known as 'Rip Crews' have set up operations along border areas to rob migrants, who are less likely to report the crime.
Border Patrol agents are still investigating the recent incident in San Diego and no arrests have been made. DailyMail.com reached out to U.S. CBP and the Imperial County Sheriff's Office for comment but did not immediately hear back.
