Border security chief kills self in car on I-10

The head of federal immigration operations in Phoenix shot and killed himself Tuesday morning while driving alone at 75 to 80 mph south on Interstate 10, officials said.

New effort aims to curb immigrant smuggling

Thomas V. DeRouchey, 45, died just north of Tucson, where he was to attend a morning news conference in which officials announced new measures to slow illegal immigration at the Arizona-Mexico border. Authorities said the 8:30 a.m. shot that killed DeRouchey, interim special agent in charge of the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s office in Phoenix, appeared to be self-inflicted.

“It wasn't like a sniper or anything to indicate that something outside the car created the injury,” said Marana police Sgt. Tim Brunenkant. That department is investigating the death.

The car, a government-issued Chrysler four-door sedan, was traveling at about the speed limit when it crashed into the median guardrails at Tangerine Road, police said.

“There were two witnesses who saw him go out of control, saw him go off the road,” Brunenkant said. “They reported that they did see his wound.”

The witnesses called 911 and stopped to help DeRouchey, who was dressed in a suit and wearing visible Immigration and Customs Enforcement credentials.

“It's very bizarre,” Brunenkant said. “We are trying to find out what would have motivated him. Hopefully, we will find out in a few days.”

Bureau spokesman Russell Ahr said that DeRouchey was unmarried and had no children, and his parents are dead. His sister and brother-in-law live in Phoenix.

"There's a lot I cannot say, but what I can say is that there was no gunbattle," Ahr said.

DeRouchey took over immigration operations 10 months ago in Arizona, moving from a similar post in Atlanta, Ahr said. He helped the old Immigration and Naturalization Service make the transition into the new Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the Department of Homeland Security.

"When he came to Phoenix he was extremely surprised and very concerned about the level of violence associated with smuggling, and he was committed to seeing that as much could be done as possible about the level of violence,” Ahr said. “He was very enthusiastic about Operation ICE Storm.”

Authorities have found 190 illegal immigrants stashed in six Mesa drop houses so far this year — most within the last 12 days. Last month, between 500 and 600 illegal immigrants were discovered in 12 drop houses throughout the Valley.

Besides Atlanta, he had served in INS positions in Omaha and Grand Island, Neb., San Diego, Burlington, Vt., Los Angeles and Phoenix. He was a member of the Cheyenne River Lakota Sioux Tribe and a U.S. Army veteran.