BT
U.S. Marine Corps · United States 
Brian Terry
2010
Brian A. Terry served the U.S. Marine Corps.
How He Died
Manner
Homicide
Cause
Gunshot wound
Mechanism
Firearm
What Happened
Location: Arizona
Incident Date: Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Weapon: Rifle; AK-47
Offender: Seven suspects convicted
Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was shot and killed near Rio Rico, Arizona, while attempting to apprehend a group of armed subjects. The suspects had been preying on illegal immigrants, bringing in drugs with the intent to rob them after they sold the drugs.
Agent Terry and several other agents were attempting to arrest the group when shots were exchanged between the suspects and agents. Agent Terry was struck in the pelvis by a round fired by a suspect armed with an AK-47.
He was flown to a hospital where he succumbed early the following morning.
One of the subjects who was wounded in the shootout was taken into custody at the scene and charged with murder. Four other subjects fled the scene and were believed to have returned to Mexico. One of the four fugitives was arrested by Mexican authorities in September 2012.
On October 30th, 2012, the subject who was wounded in the initial shootout pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. A total of six subjects were convicted of crimes in connection to Agent Terry's murder and sentenced to life. The seventh suspect, leader of the group, was extradited from Mexico to Arizona in 2020. On September 21, 2022, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to 77 years.
Agent Terry was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the United States Border Patrol for 3 1/2 years. He had previously served as a police officer with the Lincoln Park, Michigan, Police Department.
Incident Date: Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Weapon: Rifle; AK-47
Offender: Seven suspects convicted
Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was shot and killed near Rio Rico, Arizona, while attempting to apprehend a group of armed subjects. The suspects had been preying on illegal immigrants, bringing in drugs with the intent to rob them after they sold the drugs.
Agent Terry and several other agents were attempting to arrest the group when shots were exchanged between the suspects and agents. Agent Terry was struck in the pelvis by a round fired by a suspect armed with an AK-47.
He was flown to a hospital where he succumbed early the following morning.
One of the subjects who was wounded in the shootout was taken into custody at the scene and charged with murder. Four other subjects fled the scene and were believed to have returned to Mexico. One of the four fugitives was arrested by Mexican authorities in September 2012.
On October 30th, 2012, the subject who was wounded in the initial shootout pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. A total of six subjects were convicted of crimes in connection to Agent Terry's murder and sentenced to life. The seventh suspect, leader of the group, was extradited from Mexico to Arizona in 2020. On September 21, 2022, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to 77 years.
Agent Terry was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the United States Border Patrol for 3 1/2 years. He had previously served as a police officer with the Lincoln Park, Michigan, Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his parents, brother, two sisters, five nieces, and one nephew.
Service Record
U.S. Marine Corps
Also Served
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol
Border Patrol Agent
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnqtjm0gf8y6wd5y1b5v
Record added
August 2, 2026
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Last updated
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