Las Vegas Review-Journal

Man who killed agent on Amtrak train identified

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TUCSON, Ariz. — Officials on Thursday identified the armed passenger who died in a gunfight after fatally shooting a federal agent inside an Amtrak train in Arizona as Darrion Taylor.

The Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office in Tucson said in a news release that Taylor, 26, was shot in the torso and limbs.

The wounds were not self-inflicted, according to medical examiner Dr. Gregory Hess. A more detailed autopsy will be completed sometime next month.

A regional task force of Drug Enforcemen­t Administra­tion agents and local police officers were inspecting baggage for contraband at the train station in downtown Tucson on Monday morning.

Acting on tips from Amtrak, authoritie­s say they got permission to search baggage belonging to Taylor and another passenger in the same row, Devonte Okeith Mathis. When an officer found two bulk packages of marijuana during an inspection on the platform, Michael Garbo, a DEA group supervisor, and another agent re-entered a train car to talk to Taylor.

Authoritie­s say that’s when Taylor opened fire, killing Garbo and wounding a second agent. A Tucson police officer was also wounded.

The agent and officer both remain hospitaliz­ed. Their names have not been released.

Tucson police say several responding officers exchanged gunfire with Taylor, who barricaded himself in a bathroom. He was later found dead inside.

Mathis, meanwhile, was arrested on suspicion of knowingly and intentiona­lly possessing with the intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana.

Victoria Brambl, a federal public defender listed as Mathis’ attorney, did not immediatel­y return a voicemail message seeking comment Thursday.

A public funeral for Garbo, who joined the DEA in 2005, is planned for Friday in Tucson.

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