An IRS special agent was shot and killed during a training exercise on a Phoenix gun range by another agent Thursday, sparking an investigation by the FBI.
(Video Credit: 12 News)
ABC 15 News broke the story that the shooting and death had occurred outside of Anthem on a range used by multiple law enforcement agencies.
FBI officials released a statement on Thursday evening confirming the death of the agent but did not share further details about what exactly happened on the range.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) also issued a statement that it was investigating a “shooting incident” at the Federal Correctional Institutional (FCI) Phoenix firing range Thursday afternoon but could not confirm additional details.
Charlotte M. Dennis with the Phoenix Field Office of the IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) division told Arizona’s Family in an interview that the agency was aware of an “incident” involving one of its special agents.
Why do IRS agents need guns? https://t.co/afmFoNpQXM
— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) August 18, 2023
She stated that the agent was taken to HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center, where he later passed away.
IRS special agents are the only ones in the federal agency who carry guns and conduct criminal investigations. According to the IRS, the Criminal Investigations Division is made up of 3,000 employees worldwide, with 2,100 of those being special agents.
The IRS told “Arizona’s Family Investigates” that the Phoenix Field Office of IRS Criminal Investigations covers four states that include Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah. The office has approximately 90 special agents.
The agency has recently hired 87,000 new agents to go after Americans over tax filings under the Biden administration’s implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act.
I guess that leaves 86,999 new agents
— Brian Boru (@Brian_Boroimhe) August 18, 2023
“We are aware of an incident involving one of our special agents that occurred during a routine training exercise at the Federal Correctional Institution, Phoenix firing range. The agent was immediately taken to HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center to be treated for the injury. The agent passed away shortly after arriving at the hospital. The incident is under investigation,” the IRS declared on Thursday. “Our concern today is for the agent and their family.”
An official statement from the FBI followed.
“The FBI’s Phoenix field office is conducting an investigation surrounding the death of an IRS special agent today that occurred at the Federal Correctional Institution, Phoenix firing range,” the FBI statement began.
“While the firing range is on Bureau of Prisons grounds, an interagency agreement allows for other law enforcement agencies to use the facility for training purposes. Today, the IRS was at the range for routine training,” it continued.
Who could have seen this coming? They need to shut down this armed agent program immediately. I’ve seen these people LARP with firearms. This was the inevitable.
— Jared Monroe (@TheJaredMonroe) August 18, 2023
“To preserve the integrity and capabilities of the investigation, details of the ongoing process will not be released. Findings of the FBI investigation will be turned over to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona for review,” the agency announced, putting to bed any chances of transparency concerning the incident. “The FBI’s investigation will be methodical and thorough to address every element of the incident.”
The agents’ identities have not been released at this time.
Social media piled on over the shooting:
IRS agents shouldn’t have guns.
— Democrats are a threat to AMERICA (@drdrjojo) August 18, 2023
Who saw that coming?
— InAMinutePatriot (@Dr912) August 18, 2023
Talking about friendly Fire
— VICnTX✊‼️ (@MeVictorD) August 18, 2023
I still for the life of me, will never understand why the IRS needs any legitimate armed force… Can’t we outsource this to actual law enforcement agencies? Federal, or preferably local law enforcement? Why does every alphabet agency need a militaristic internal branch?…
— I Will Not Comply (@YouknowTheguy3) August 18, 2023
I warned them not to hire Alec Baldwin as a consultant.
— TheWorldHasGoneNuts (@PatrickMcSwain2) August 18, 2023
I cant think of a single good reason for the IRS to heave weapons or to get weapon training. However, I can think of several BAD reasons.
— Martina Shantez (@colemarisa49) August 18, 2023
Explain again why we need armed IRS agents?
— StaceyWallen✌❤️ (@stacey_wallen) August 18, 2023
I ran a few ranges in the Army. This should have never happened. Typical of the Biden Administration!
— BULL (@BULL286233) August 18, 2023
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