Southwest
Biden shares condolences with families of National Guardsmen and CBP agent killed in Texas helicopter crash
President Biden offered his condolences to the families and loved ones of three people killed in a helicopter crash Friday near the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas.
Two National Guard soldiers and a Border Patrol agent were killed in the crash, the military said. A fourth soldier was hospitalized and remains in critical condition.
“These brave Americans dedicated their lives to protecting our nation. They signed up knowing the risks and believing in the mission of serving their fellow Americans by keeping our nation safe. Our gratitude is profound, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” Biden said in a statement.
“We extend our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones, as well as their colleagues in the National Guard and U.S. Border Patrol. We pray for the injured Guardsman’s swift recovery.
MEXICAN CARTEL MEMBERS LAUGH AFTER NATIONAL GUARD HELICOPTER CRASHES, KILLS 3
A National Guard helicopter after crashing in La Grulla, Texas, Friday. (Fox News)
“As we investigate the circumstances of this crash, we continue to stand with our service members, border agents, and their families, whose contributions to our nation are vital to our security.”
The UH-72 Lakota helicopter was conducting routine operations near Rio Grande City, Texas, when it went down, according to Joint Task Force North. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
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Authorities in La Grulla, Texas, at the site of a National Guard helicopter crash. (Fox News)
Starr County Judge Eloy Vera, the county’s top official, said those on board included one woman and three men.
Law enforcement sources told Fox News the three National Guard soldiers were working on federal orders on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security.
NATIONAL GUARD HELICOPTER CRASHES NEAR SOUTHERN BORDER IN TEXAS, MULTIPLE FATALITIES REPORTED
President Biden, accompanied by first lady Jill Biden, attends a campaign event at Strath Haven Middle School in Wallingford, Pa. (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The names of those killed have not been released.
National Guard Bureau chief Gen. Daniel Hokanson gave his condolences to the family and friends of those killed in a post on X. He also wished the injured soldier a speedy recovery.
“We mourn these heartbreaking deaths,” Hokanson wrote. “They are a tragic loss beyond words. All of these people represent selfless service & the best of America.”
The site of the crash is in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, a hotbed of illegal immigration. Federal and state border authorities routinely patrol the area to stop illegal crossings.
In January, a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter patrolling the state’s border with Mexico lost power and crashed, officials said at the time. The co-pilot suffered a minor hand injury, and the helicopter was significantly damaged.
That helicopter was flying as part of Operation Lone Star, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s nearly $10 billion border mission that has tested the federal government’s authority over immigration.
Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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A woman was hospitalized with serious injuries after she was violently attacked by a robber in downtown Long Beach. On June 18, Jennifer Silva, 34, was attending a World Cup watch party at a Hooters restaurant at 90 Aquarium Way. After the game ended, she left the restaurant just before 11 p.m. As she walked […]
Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
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A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
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