Kristopher William Eggle, a 28-year-old National Park Ranger, was shot and killed on August 9, 2002, in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in southern Arizona. The shooting occurred about 2:00 p.m. after Eggle joined U.S. Border Patrol agents pursuing two armed men who had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border and were suspected of violent crimes in Mexico. A Border Patrol helicopter located the suspects and directed ground units to them.

One suspect, identified as Dionicio Ramirez-Lopez, surrendered and was taken into custody. The other, identified as Panfilo Murillo Aguila, opened fire with an AK-47, and a bullet struck Eggle below his protective vest, causing a fatal wound. A medevac helicopter was dispatched but Eggle died at the scene. Aguila fled toward the Mexican border and was shot and killed by Mexican law enforcement in an exchange of gunfire. Ramirez-Lopez was later sentenced to 15.5 years in a U.S. prison for his role in the events that led to Ranger Eggle’s death.

Did anyone who worked in or visited Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument around that time see anything that could add detail to the pursuit or the moments before the shooting?