Attempted Murder Charge for New Hampshire Man
Federal prosecutors have filed charges against a man from New Hampshire for attempted murder after he allegedly shot at a U.S. Border Patrol agent close to the Canadian border.
Callan Zeke Daley, 26, who also goes by Blue Zeke Daley, faces one charge of attempted murder of a federal officer and another charge of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon. He is currently hospitalized in New Hampshire and under medical supervision.
The situation unfolded on the night of February 21 when Border Patrol agents came across Daley driving alone in Stewartstown, a town near the border. After the agent inquired whether Daley had used a different name, he drove away, prompting the agent to follow him from a distance.
Just after midnight on February 22, Daley reached the Pittsburgh port of entry on the U.S.-Canada border, where the railroad crossing gates were locked. The agent turned on his emergency lights, exited his vehicle, and, according to the complaint, this is when Daley fired his handgun at the agent. The agents returned fire, hitting Daley in the process.
Fortunately, the agent was unharmed during this exchange, which took place around 1 a.m. ET in the small northern town. Although Daley sustained injuries, the officer escaped without any injury. Reports reveal Daley remained hospitalized as of Tuesday evening.
If convicted, Daley faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the attempted murder charge, as well as similar penalties for the assault charge. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant laws.
There has been a significant rise in threats against federal immigration officials recently, with a staggering 8,000% increase in death threats against ICE officers, according to the Department of Homeland Security. These threats have included the sharing of personal information, online harassment, and direct threats toward officers and their families.
Additionally, reports show a more than 1,300% spike in assaults on ICE agents, which agency leaders attribute to a troubling increase in violence against immigration officials. Leaders within the Department of Homeland Security have highlighted that employees on the front lines are facing an increasingly hostile environment as enforcement activities continue to grow.
