News

Border shooting: Authorities confirm man was killed by sharp shooter while assaulting migrants

urlhttps3A2F2Fcalifornia times brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com2Ff02F382Fb2699c7444f899d7f8abbef6986e2F1170264 me immigration 41 cmc

A tragic incident occurred earlier this month near the California-Mexico border when a man was fatally shot by a border patrol marksman. The reason behind the shooting, as revealed by federal officials, was that the man was threatening migrants with a firearm.

According to the U.S Customs and Border Protection, the shooting took place on March 3 near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry border checkpoint. A border patrol tactical unit had been set up in response to reports of armed robberies and assaults targeting migrants attempting to cross into the U.S. The agents were in a concealed position when they witnessed the armed man threatening a group of migrants by loading a firearm and pointing it at them. In response, a border patrol precision marksman fired one shot at the man, fatally striking him. Fortunately, no other injuries were reported in the incident.

The identity of the 32-year-old Mexican citizen who was killed has not been publicly disclosed. Authorities recovered a handgun near the deceased man, corroborating the reports of him being armed. While a border patrol union leader initially described the incident as a “gun battle,” federal officials clarified that only one shot was fired.

Witnesses at the scene confirmed the events as described by the border agents, stating that the armed man, accompanied by at least three others, had demanded money from the migrants. Despite prompt medical assistance, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to release the autopsy results.

Currently, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the FBI, and the border patrol’s Office of Professional Responsibility are conducting an ongoing investigation into the incident. Although U.S. Customs and Border Protection has not publicly released video footage of the shooting, they have expressed their commitment to sharing the body-worn camera footage once it is deemed appropriate and without hindering the ongoing investigations.

Check Out Also: What are the challenges of drilling in outer space?

This tragic event serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by migrants and the challenges confronted by border patrol agents in ensuring the safety and security of the border region. As more details emerge from the investigation, it is essential for authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent review of the circumstances surrounding the shooting to provide clarity and closure to all those involved.

Intellectuals Insider

+ posts

News

Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?

Now may be the time to buy gold following a recent lull in its price.

Getty Images/iStockphoto

The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.

This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.

In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?

Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.

Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?

With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:

Prices may rise again

If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.

But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.

Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.

You may be able to make a quick profit

Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.

Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.

There are other benefits of investing in gold

There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:

Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.

The bottom line

Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.

Joshua Rodriguez

Joshua Rodriguez is a personal finance and investing writer with a passion for his craft. When he’s not working, he enjoys time with his wife, two kids, two dogs and two ducks.