A federal grand jury in Tucson last week returned a five-count indictment against 34-year-old Patrick Gary Schlegel, charging him with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, Assault on a Federal Officer and Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
According to the complaint, Schlegel was driving two undocumented migrants on Jan. 26, 2026, when U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered him. He fled the scene and abandoned the migrants in the desert. The next day, agents located Schlegel’s Dodge Ram in a remote area; he again attempted to evade officers, driving into the desert and then fleeing on foot.
To help locate him, an Air and Marine Operations pilot flew over the area. The complaint alleges Schlegel fired multiple rounds from a .45-caliber handgun at the helicopter pilot. An agent on the ground returned fire, striking Schlegel, the release said…