On Saturday, January 19, 2008, Senior Patrol Agent Luis A. Aguilar of the Yuma Station was murdered while in the performance of his duties.
Agent Aguilar was attempting to deploy a set of tire deflation devices to stop a suspected smuggler who was attempting to evade agents and escape into Mexico across the Imperial Sand Dunes in the Yuma Sector area of operations. The suspect, driving a Hummer, accelerated his vehicle and intentionally swerved into Agent Aguilar. Agent Aguilar was unable to avoid the oncoming vehicle and was struck by the suspect's vehicle. Despite efforts by his fellow agents and responding EMS, he died at the scene as a result of his injuries.
Agent Luis Aguilar began his career with the Border Patrol when he entered on duty July 21, 2002, as a member of the 519th Session of the Border Patrol Academy. He had been assigned to the Yuma Station in the Yuma Sector since his graduation from the Academy, and had been a Border Patrol agent for six years. Agent Aguilar was 31 years old at the time of his death, and he leaves behind a wife, two children, his parents, and brothers and sisters.