A border patrol agent in California fatally shot a man who threw a rock at him on Tuesday, NBC San Diego reported.
The incident occurred around 6:40 a.m. after two patrol agents were pursuing who they believed to be undocumented immigrants, San Diego County Sheriff's homicide detective Lt. Glenn Giannantonio said.
After the agents separated, one of them was hit in the face with a rock after following one person through a ravine. After the agent asked the man in both English and Spanish to stop throwing the rocks -- some of which were reportedly the size of a basketball -- he continued to throw them.
"The agent, fearing for his safety, fired his duty weapon at the suspect, striking him," Lt. Giannantonio said.
Officials said the agent shot the man at least twice and attempted to revive him once he realized he was down.
The suspect died at the scene. Though the agent did not request to be transported to a hospital, he was eventually treated for minor injuries and released the same day.
Additionally, two people believed to be illegal immigrants were arrested.
This is not the first incident of it's kind involving patrol agents and rock throwers. In January, a border patrol agent riding in an ATV was hit with a rock measuring six inches in diameter.
Last year, several federal agents were hit with rocks and bottles near the Tijuana River Channel by the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
According to a report by the agency, there was a 70 percent increase of assaults against agents in 2011 - 2012, with rocks recorded as the most used weapon against them.
