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Wife of CBP officer killed in accidental shooting at Florida gun range says he was devoted to family
Ana Mary Arias is grieving the loss of her husband, Customs and Border Protection officer Jorge Arias, who was killed in an accidental shooting at a South Florida gun range on Wednesday. She called him her soulmate and a great father to her children. (Video courtesy: WSVN)
MIAMI - A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer who was killed after he was accidentally shot in the chest at a South Florida gun range has been identified.
According to WSVN, the officer was identified as 40-year-old Jorge Arias, who was assigned to Miami International Airport.
Arias was also a firearms instructor at Trail Glades Range in Miami-Dade County when the shooting happened just after 10 a.m. Wednesday morning as he was giving range instructions.
Jorge Arias (Courtesy: Arias family)
The range is divided into two sides: a civilian side and a law enforcement side. A man on the civilian side told WTVJ he heard screams coming from the law enforcement part of the range before employees told everyone to cease fire.
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"Further investigation has revealed that the shooting that occurred during the training involves a second officer," a release from Miami-Dade police said, though it did not name the second officer involved.
(Courtesy: WSVN)
"Our homicide bureau is investigating the situation. It is in its infancy; we don’t have that answer right now," Miami-Dade police detective Luis Sierra told WSVN.
Police said the round hit Arias in the chest.
Arias was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition but later was pronounced dead.
Customs and Border Protection officers along with other law enforcement officers throughout South Florida joined in a procession in Miami as the body of fallen officer Jorge Arias was brought to the Medical Examiner's Office. (Courtesy: WSVN)
After Arias succumbed to his injuries, a large number police and customs officers followed the ambulance carrying the fallen officer's body from the hospital to the Medical Examiner's Office across the street. The somber procession of officers walked in the rain to honor their colleague.
"I did not anticipate that," his wife, Ana Mary Arias, told WSVN after she saw the emotional display from his fellow officers. "He is getting a hero’s ceremony, and that’s exactly what he deserved."
Customs and Border Protection officers along with other law enforcement officers throughout South Florida salute to honor fallen officer Jorge Arias as his body was brought to the Medical Examiner's Office. (Courtesy: WSVN)
In addition to working as a customs officer, Arias was also a reservist in the U.S. Coast Guard and had recently re-enlisted, according to his family.
"A father, spouse, great uncle, great family, just all-around great guy," Silva said.