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NEAR RIO RICO - BREAKING NEWS: The Border Patrol has confirmed an agent was shot and killed overnight north of Rio Rico.

The Agent has been identified as Brian Terry.

At least four suspects are in custody while one is still on the loose.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Terry family for their tragic loss," said CBP Commissioner Alan Bersin. "Our commitment to Agent Terry and his family is that we will do everything possible to bring to justice those responsible for this despicable act."

The FBI and the Santa Cruz County Sheirff's office are heading the investigation.

If you know anything you are being asked to call the authorities.

News 4 Tucson has a crew on the scene and we will bring you updates and details as they become available.

Update:
Agent Brian A. Terry, 40, was waiting with three other agents in a remote area north of Nogales late Tuesday night when a gun battle with the bandits began, said National Border Patrol Council President T.J. Bonner.

No other agents were injured, but one of the suspects was wounded in the shootout.

The FBI is investigating the shooting. Border Patrol spokesman Eric Cantu and FBI spokeswoman Brenda Lee Nath declined to confirm Bonner's account, but said that authorities have four suspects in custody and are searching for a fifth.

Terry had served in the military and was a Border Patrol agent for about three years. He died early Wednesday.

Bandits have long roamed border areas, robbing and sexually assaulting illegal immigrants as they cross into the country.

Bonner, whose group represents 17,000 agents, said the fatal shooting shows that the border is still dangerous. "This is a sign that the politicians and bureaucrats are overly optimistic in their assessment that the borders are more secure now than at any point in our history. It showed just the opposite," Bonner said.