Federal investigators believe that the fatal shooting of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Ivie was the result of friendly fire. …

“While it is important to emphasize that the FBI’s investigation is actively continuing, there are strong preliminary indications that the death of United States Border Patrol Agent Nicholas J. Ivie and the injury to a second agent was the result of an accidental shooting incident involving only the agents,” FBI Special Agent in Charge James L. Turgal Jr. said in a statement. …

A federal law enforcement official familiar with the investigation said Friday that it appears the agents, while responding to a tripped ground sensor near the U.S.- Mexico border early Wednesday, became disoriented and were caught in their own fire.