U.S. border agent shot and killed

TUCSON, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- A U.S. Border Patrol agent was shot and killed near the U.S.-Mexican border after encountering several suspects, federal authorities said.

Agent Brian Terry was killed just 10 miles north of the border near Rio Rico, Ariz., Tuesday night, The Arizona Republic reported.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection statement said four suspects were in custody and a fifth was being sought, CNN reported.

Border agents were patrolling a remote and rugged area just north of the border town of Nogales when they encountered several armed individuals and there was an exchange of gunfire, FBI Special Agent Manuel J. Johnson said.

Terry was shot and later died, Johnson said, and one of the captured suspects was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano called the killing of Terry "an unconscionable act of violence."

Terry is the third Border Patrol agent to be killed in the line of duty this year, the Customs and Border Protection agency said.