FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge George Piro’s Remarks at Press Conference Regarding Agent-Involved Shooting

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge George Piro delivered the following remarks at a press conference regarding an agent-involved shooting in Sunrise, Florida, in which two FBI agents were killed and three were wounded. Remarks as delivered.

Good afternoon. My name is George Piro. I am the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Miami Field Office.

This is a dark day for the FBI.

Special Agents Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger were shot and killed in the line of duty.

Our sympathies are with their families and loved ones. We, the FBI Family, share in their loss.

As you may know by now, this morning, agents from this office and officers from other partner law enforcement agencies assembled in Sunrise, Florida, to serve a court-ordered federal search warrant for a violent crimes against children investigation.

FBI Miami conducts search warrants almost daily. They are an essential and important part of what we do and are thoroughly researched and meticulously planned to take into account any threats or dangers. The vast majority of these warrants occur without incident and the investigation continues.

The operation this morning in Sunrise ended tragically with the subject opening fire on the members of the search team. Five agents were struck by gunfire, resulting in the deaths of two agents, with the other three agents sustaining wounds of varying severity. Two of the wounded agents, both shot multiple times, were transported to a local hospital. One agent had his wounds treated at the scene.

The subject is also deceased. His name will not be released pending notification of next of kin.

It takes an incredibly special person to answer the call and do the heroic work of an FBI special agent. It requires self-sacrifice. It requires putting oneself in harm’s way, not once, but again and again.

Dan and Laura left home this morning to carry out the mission they signed up for and loved to do—to keep the American people safe. They were valuable members of our team. They will forever be heroes. We will always honor their ultimate sacrifice.

Dan Alfin was 36 years old. He was born in New York and joined the FBI in 2009 with his initial assignment to the FBI’s Albany, New York, office. He has been assigned to FBI Miami since 2017 and has worked crimes against children violations for over six years. He is survived by his wife and one child.

Laura Schwartzenberger was 43 years old. She was born in Pueblo, Colorado, and joined the FBI in 2005. Her initial assignment was with the FBI’s Albuquerque, New Mexico, office. She was reassigned to FBI Miami in 2010 and has worked crimes against children cases for over seven years. She is survived by her husband and two children.

The FBI is a family, and our chosen profession is fraught with danger. Today, this grim reality has taken two of our best from our family. We are saddened by the loss as we struggle to come to terms with what happened.

As we grieve their loss we will continue our mission to protect the American people.

Thank you.

Director Wray’s Statement Regarding Agent-Involved Shooting in Florida

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

FBI Director Christopher Wray issued the following statement regarding an agent-involved shooting in Sunrise, Florida.

Tragically, the FBI lost two of our own today. Special Agent Daniel Alfin and Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger were shot and killed this morning in the line of duty while executing a federal court-ordered search warrant in a crimes against children investigation in Sunrise, Florida. Three other agents were shot and wounded; two suffered injuries requiring hospital care, but both are now in stable condition. The third injured agent did not require hospitalization.
 
Every day, FBI special agents put themselves in harm’s way to keep the American people safe. Special Agent Alfin and Special Agent Schwartzenberger exemplified heroism today in defense of their country. The FBI will always honor their ultimate sacrifice and will be forever grateful for their bravery. We continue to stand by our FBI Family, and the families of these special agents, in the days to come, bringing every resource we can to get through this together.

FBI Miami Statement on Agent-Involved Shooting

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

The FBI is reviewing an agent-involved shooting which occurred this morning at approximately 6 a.m. in the vicinity of 10100 Reflections Boulevard, Sunrise, Florida. A team of law enforcement officers were there to execute a federal court-ordered search warrant in furtherance of a violent crimes against children case.

Two FBI agents are deceased and three are wounded. Two wounded agents were transported to hospital and are in stable condition. The names of the deceased will not be released at this time.

The subject is deceased.

In accordance with FBI policy, the shooting incident is under investigation by the FBI’s Inspection Division. The review process is thorough and objective and is conducted as expeditiously as possible under the circumstances. Because this is an ongoing investigation, no further information will be released at this time.

Security News in Brief: Complaint Seeks Forfeiture of Iranian Oil Aboard Tanker Based on Connection to Terror Group

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

The United States filed a forfeiture complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that all oil aboard a Liberian-flagged vessel, the M/T Achilleas (Achilleas), is subject to forfeiture based on U.S. terrorism forfeiture laws. The complaint alleges a scheme involving multiple entities affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) to covertly ship Iranian oil to a customer abroad.  Participants in the scheme attempted to disguise the origin of the oil using ship-to-ship transfers, falsified documents, and other means, and provided a fraudulent bill of lading to deceive the owners of the Achilleas into loading the oil in question.