Border Patrol agent shot unarmed teen in Calexico eight times after two prior disciplined civilian shootings

On July 11, 2022, U.S. Border Patrol Agent Marcos Javier Andrade fired eight shots at 19-year-old Anthony Flores — who was unarmed and not engaged in any smuggling activity — during an attempted traffic stop in Calexico, California, striking the teenager in the neck, hip, shoulder, and thumb. Andrade had pulled his patrol vehicle alongside after suspecting Flores's minivan of smuggling undocumented immigrants; when Flores became stuck in traffic at a stoplight, Andrade exited and pointed his weapon at Flores before firing. Shattered glass also lodged in Flores's eye. Flores survived but sustained permanent physical disabilities — including lasting hand impairment and scarring from gunshot wounds — and has reported ongoing nightmares and psychological trauma from the incident.

The shooting was not Andrade's first documented use of his service weapon against civilians. A federal indictment later revealed that Andrade had been disciplined by Border Patrol on two prior occasions for firing at civilians: once in 2012 and again in 2017. Despite those disciplinary actions, the agency permitted him to remain in the field and continue carrying a badge and a firearm, including through the date of the Calexico shooting. Following the July 2022 incident, Andrade also refused to answer basic safety questions that all Border Patrol agents are required to answer on-scene after a use-of-force event. The Border Patrol took no action to relieve him of duty; Andrade continued active field service under El Centro Sector Chief Greg Bovino for nearly four years after the shooting.

Flores filed a civil lawsuit against Andrade and the federal government in July 2024, alleging violation of his Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable and excessive force, as well as assault, battery, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. A federal district judge dismissed an initial complaint in October 2024 but allowed Flores to file an amended complaint, which remained under judicial review into 2026. Flores's civil attorneys said they only learned of Andrade's two prior disciplined shootings through the criminal indictment unsealed in late March 2026.

Updates

2026-03-27 — Federal grand jury indicted Andrade on rights-deprivation and firearms charges [1]

A federal grand jury in the Southern District of California indicted Andrade on one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, nearly four years after the shooting. Border Patrol placed Andrade on administrative leave on April 4, 2026, the day after the indictment was unsealed — the first removal from field duty since the 2022 incident.

2026-04-06 — Andrade pleaded not guilty; trial date pending [2]

Andrade made his initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in San Diego and entered not-guilty pleas on both counts. The judge allowed him to remain out of custody on $50,000 bond. A trial date was expected to be set at a May 2026 hearing.