CBP helicopter takes fire near border with Mexico; forced to land
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}SAN DIEGO, CA - OCTOBER 01: A U.S. Office of Air and Marine (OAM) helicopter patrols near the U.S.-Mexico border on October 1, 2013 in San Diego, California. OAM helicopters support U.S. Border Patrol as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), personnel protecting border areas. While much of the Federal Government has closed down, personnel considered essential, such as border agents, remain working. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) (2013 Getty Images)
A U.S. Border Patrol helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in Texas after it was fired upon.
The incident happened about 5 p.m. Friday while the aircraft was patrolling the Rio Grande near the far northwest corner of the border city of Laredo.
Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar (KWAY'-yahr) tells the Laredo Morning Times (http://bit.ly/1Kg0ji2 ) that out of five shots believed to have been fired at the helicopter, two are confirmed to have hit their target.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Border Patrol spokeswoman Sara Melendez says no one aboard the aircraft was injured. The helicopter landed safely.
There was no immediate word on whether the gunfire came from the Mexican side of the river or the U.S. side.