Gunfire erupted at the southern border on October 8th as a suspected cartel member fired at National Guard troops stationed in Roma, TX.
The shots were fired across the southern border from the Mexico side, and appeared to be aimed at the Texas National Guard troops that are currently doing the federal government’s job in securing the border.
Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin, who has been covering the crisis at the southern border for some time now, tweeted out a video from the incident.
“We witnessed tracer rounds from a suspected cartel machine gun being fired from Mexico into the U.S. early this morning while we were embedded with the TX National Guard in Roma, TX. Soldiers tell us the rounds went above one of their observation posts,” Melugin wrote.
NEW: “Holy sh*t!”
We witnessed tracer rounds from a suspected cartel machine gun being fired from Mexico into the U.S. early this morning while we were embedded with the TX National Guard in Roma, TX. Soldiers tell us the rounds went above one of their observation posts. @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/wJrcDF885r— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) October 8, 2021
In a subsequent tweet, Melugin questioned the motives behind the gunfire, writing: “It’s unclear if this was from a cartel gunfight, a form of intimidation to the soldiers, or just indiscriminate shooting.”
“There was a larger volley before this one, but I didn’t get my phone out in time. Soldiers believe it was a M240 machine gun or potentially a PKM. Thoughts?” he added.
In the third and final tweet of this thread, Melugin shared another video that was shared with him, which shows that this cartel gunfire was not an isolated incident.
“Soldiers told us there have been cartel gunfights in Ciudad Miguel Aleman, the Mexican city across from Roma, TX, frequently in recent days and weeks,” the Fox News correspondent tweeted. “The soldiers heard gunfire and explosions two days ago and showed us this video of smoke billowing after the gunfight.”
Soldiers told us there have been cartel gunfights in Ciudad Miguel Aleman, the Mexican city across from Roma, TX, frequently in recent days and weeks. The soldiers heard gunfire and explosions two days ago and showed us this video of smoke billowing after the gunfight. pic.twitter.com/yow1pPvJS8
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) October 8, 2021
As the situation at the border continues to worsen, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been forced to send his state’s National Guard troops to the border to help fight against the surge of illegal immigration and crime.
In July of 2021, Governor Abbott sent a letter to Major General Tracy R. Norris, Adjutant General of the Texas National Guard, ordering guardsmen to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety in arresting individuals for state charges related to the Biden administration’s border crisis.
“To respond to this disaster and secure the rule of law at our Southern border, more manpower is needed—in addition to the troopers from DPS and soldiers from the Texas National Guard I have already deployed there—and DPS needs help in arresting those who are violating state law,” the letter states. “By virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas, I hereby order that the Texas National Guard assist DPS in enforcing Texas law by arresting lawbreakers at the border.”