By Dillon Burroughs October 8, 2021 at 9:01am
Shots were fired from the Mexican side of the border toward National Guard troops in Texas on Friday morning, new video footage reportedly shows.
“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,” Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin tweeted with the video of the shots fired.
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 (@BillFOXLA) October 8, 2021
“It’s unclear if this was from a cartel gunfight, a form of intimidation to the soldiers, or just indiscriminate shooting,” Melugin added in another tweet.
“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?”
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?
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) October 8, 2021
Melugin posted another video shared with him that noted the shooting was not an isolated incident.
Should more National Guard troops be sent to the southern border?
At least one other gunfight had been documented recently on the Mexican side of the border.
“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,” Melugin 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 (@BillFOXLA) October 8, 2021
Despite the shootings on the Mexican side of the border, Melugin reported the situation would be far worse without the National Guard’s presence.
“It’s unimaginable what the situation would be like if Texas DPS and the National Guard weren’t deployed,” Melugin tweeted.
“The Feds do not have even remotely close to the manpower needed to handle this surge.”
After having covered the border for about 5 months straight now…an observation.
It’s unimaginable what the situation would be like if Texas DPS and the National Guard weren’t deployed.
The Feds do not have even remotely close to the manpower needed to handle this surge.
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) October 8, 2021
Melugin added that Texas resources have been critical in responding to incidents at the border.
“In many areas, like Roma last night, Border Patrol has to rely on Texas resources to apprehend migrants first, then hand them off to federal custody for processing. There were zero BP agents we saw on the front line at the river’s edge. Not their fault. They are overwhelmed,” he tweeted.
In many areas, like Roma last night, Border Patrol has to rely on Texas resources to apprehend migrants first, then hand them off to federal custody for processing. There were zero BP agents we saw on the front line at the river’s edge. Not their fault. They are overwhelmed.
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) October 8, 2021
The reports of shots fired follow widespread migrant crossings, including up to 15,000 mostly Haitian migrants illegally crossing into Del Rio, Texas, in September.
Breaking News/Media Reporter
Dillon Burroughs reports on breaking news for The Western Journal and is the author or co-author of numerous books.
Dillon Burroughs reports on breaking news for The Western Journal and is the author or co-author of numerous books. An accomplished endurance athlete, Burroughs has also completed numerous ultramarathons. He lives in Tennessee with his wife and three children.