US Coast Guard Confirms Death of Dominican Man After Firing at Fleeing Boat with $11 Million Worth of Cocaine
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico—The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that a person from the Dominican Republic passed away after being shot by the Coast Guard as they fled a boat smuggling an estimated $11 million worth of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea.
On Thursday, the agency said that Coast Guard officials aboard a U.S. Navy ship fired “warning shots and disabling fire” during the incident on Jan. 1 and discovered an injured crew member when they boarded.
As per the statement, the injured person received first aid but was later evacuated to the Dominican Republic, where they succumbed to their injuries. The person’s identity was not disclosed.
It’s unusual for there to be fatal shootings involving the Coast Guard.
“The Coast Guard takes any loss of life seriously and is working to investigate the incident,” said spokesman Lt. Cmdr. John W. Beal.
No further details about the incident were immediately available.
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According to the Coast Guard, two other suspected smugglers were arrested, and 848 pounds (385 kilograms) of cocaine were seized from the boat.
