AUTHORITIES PROBE WHO FIRED SHOT AT TWO U.S. BORDER PATROL AGENTS

CHATEAUGAY - Authorities on both sides of the border are continuing to
investigate an incident in which a single shot apparently was fired at
two U.S. Border Patrol agents.

No one was injured in the incident, which took place about dusk
Sunday, according to Leslie M. Lawson, assistant chief patrol agent
with the Border Patrol in Swanton, VT.

The apparent shooting took place after two agents spotted two people
dressed in white winter camouflage on the U.S. side of the border in
the Franklin County town of Chateaugay.

"They turned an ran toward Canada. Our agents pursued on foot," Ms.
Lawson said.

The agents stayed on the U.S. side of the border as the two crossed
into Canada in a cleared area of the woods known as the slash.

"When the suspects crossed the slashed area, they turned and fired one
shot," Ms. Lawson said.

"The agents took cover. They did not return fire. They did not see a
barrel or a flash, so they are assuming they had a hand gun," she said.

The suspects appeared to be carrying a duffel bag.

"We don't know what was in it," Ms. Lawson said.

Once in Canada, the pair got into a vehicle and drove away, Ms. Lawson
said. "We are working with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to find
out who they might be," she said.

The incident is not the first in which smugglers have worn winter
camouflage, Ms. Lawson said.

"We had an apprehension last week of a group of aliens in Vermont. The
people were wearing camouflage," she said.