New Hampshire Man Faces Attempted Murder Charges After Border Shooting Incident
A 26-year-old New Hampshire man has been formally charged with attempted murder following a dramatic shooting incident at a U.S.-Canada border crossing over the weekend, according to authorities from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Exchange of Gunfire at Pittsburg Port of Entry
Blu Zeke Daly, who also goes by the first name Cullen, was charged on Tuesday with attempting to take the life of a federal officer and one count of assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon. The charges stem from an incident that occurred at the Pittsburg Port of Entry, which borders Chartierville, Quebec.
According to an FBI criminal complaint, the confrontation began late Saturday night when a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer stopped Daly as he was driving alone in a 2012 Honda Civic that was not registered to him. The initial stop occurred near the Canadian border in Stewartson, New Hampshire, approximately 260 kilometers from Daly's residence in Manchester.
Pursuit Leads to Border Crossing Confrontation
When the officer inquired if Daly used any other names, Daly allegedly "immediately drove away," prompting the officer to follow at a distance. Investigators report that Daly proceeded to drive north for about 30 minutes to the Pittsburg Port of Entry, arriving just after midnight to find closed gates.
As the pursuing officer activated his emergency lights and exited his vehicle, Daly allegedly began turning his car around and fired a handgun at the officer. The CBP officer returned fire, striking Daly and causing him to lose control of his vehicle, which then crashed into a nearby snowbank. Officials have not specified whether the officer sustained any injuries during the exchange.
Evidence Recovered from the Scene
Inside Daly's vehicle, police allegedly discovered a Smith & Wesson SD9 2.0 handgun along with ammunition. Additionally, a single "round of expended ammunition that appears to have been fired by Daly" was located in the CBP vehicle, according to the criminal complaint.
Potential Penalties and Current Status
The Department of Justice stated that both charges carry potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison and fines reaching $250,000. Daly remains under guard at a New Hampshire hospital, and no further court dates have been scheduled at this time. The FBI is leading the ongoing investigation into the incident.
In a statement to CBS, CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott confirmed that his agency is "cooperating fully with investigators" regarding the border crossing shooting. The incident highlights the ongoing security challenges at international border crossings and the risks faced by federal officers in their duties.
