MARCH 30, 1989
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK –– Mexican lawmen this week were searching for two suspects wanted in connection with last week’s sniper attack on three people rafting the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park.
None of the three rafters were injured in the attack, which they said occurred last Wednesday afternoon near San Vicente Canyon.
The rafters were identified as Reuben Saage II of Alpine, James Gentry of Houston and Russ Alexander of Riesel.
The rafters were armed with .45-caliber and 9mm pistols, and fearing for their lives they reported firing several rounds into the air after being shot at more than 25 times for about three hours, according to reports.
National Park Service officials are contemplating weapons charges against the rafters since it is illegal to possess firearms in a national park.
The shots fired at the rafters came from cliffs on the Mexican side of the river, and Mexican authorities, who are investigating the case, have been searching the area around the Mexican village of San Vicente for suspects.
The three rafters hid behind rocks for cover and after dark, walked and hitchhiked to Rio Grande Village, about 12 miles from where the sniping attack occurred.
Park officials closed off to tourists a five-mile stretch of river where the sniping attack occurred but reopened that river area early last Friday morning, said Roy Given, the park’s acting public information officer.
The incident marred an otherwise booming Spring Break week in the park and surrounding tourist areas.