United States Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Friday, May 14, 1976
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Aircraft accident
Date of Incident: May 14, 1976
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Special Agent James Lunn and Special Agent Ralph Shaw died in a plane crash during an operations flight in support of Mexico's opium eradication program.
The single-engine de Havilland Beaver crashed into a 12,000-foot mountain near Atoyac de Alvarez, Mexico, during a period of low visibility due to a thick haze. Mexican federal narcotics agent Noe Echaustegui was also killed in the crash.
Special Agent Lunn had served with the Drug Enforcement Administration for four years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, parents, four brothers, and four sisters.