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Border Patrol Inspector Anthony L. Oneto | United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government
United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government

Border Patrol Inspector

Anthony L. Oneto

United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government

End of Watch: Tuesday, March 11, 1947

Biographical Info

Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 6 years, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 11, 1947
Weapon Used: Handgun; .32 caliber
Suspect Info: Executed in 1948

Inspector Anthony Oneto was shot and killed after he and his partner arrested four illegal aliens and the man who was smuggling them through Indio, California. The two inspectors had placed the four aliens in the back seat of their vehicle and instructed the smuggler to drive his own car to the Border Patrol office.

During the drive, the suspect stopped his vehicle and walked back to Inspector Oneto's vehicle, which was following the suspect. The man said something to the inspectors and then produced a .32 caliber handgun and opened fire. Inspector Oneto was killed. Despite being wounded, his partner returned fire and wound the suspect. The partner also managed to keep custody of the four illegal aliens until assistance arrived.

The suspect was convicted of first-degree and executed in the gas chamber on October 10, 1948.

Inspector Oneto was a United States Coast Guard World War II veteran and recipient of the Silver Star who had served with the United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol for six and half years. He was survived by his mother and son.

A room at the National Border Patrol Museum in El Paso, Texas, was named in his honor and displays pictures and possessions of Inspector Oneto, including his Silver Star.