US Marine Killed by Border Patrol on Drummond Island

[XLFD]

The Story

An interesting story developed early Thursday and continued with coverage today coming from remote Drummond Island, just east of the upper peninsula mainland.  Here is how it developed as reported in the local Sault Ste. Marie Evening News with updates:

9 a.m. Sept. 25

SAULT STE. MARIE — Michigan State Police at the Sault Post are continuing their investigation into a Thursday incident on Drummond Island that has left one man dead.  Details were scant at best as state troopers were not yet ready to release either the name of the deceased or the cause of death.

The official version of events, as of the latest press release issued at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, reveals that two U.S. Border Patrol Agents were assisting in a search for a missing person when they discovered foot prints. The agents followed those tracks to a remote cabin on Drummond Island where they were reportedly fired upon. The official account adds that Border Patrol returned fire from their service-issued weapons while taking cover at approximately 2:30 a.m., Thursday.

In response, U.S. Customs and Border patrol were joined by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Chippewa County Sheriff's office and Michigan State Police, including the Emergency Support Team as the law enforcement community flocked to Drummond Island.

Believing there was a barricaded gunman inside the cabin, authorities surrounded the structure and attempted to make contact with the suspect throughout the early morning hours on Thursday to no avail. At approximately 11 a.m., Thursday, entry was gained to the cabin where the deceased was discovered.  In the latest press release detailing this incident, Michigan State Police report the cause of death is unknown at this time and the identity of the deceased is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.

                                                                                Michigan State Police presence on Drummond Island

UPDATE 11:10 a.m.

SAULT STE. MARIE — Michigan State Police have released the name of the man the deceased individual who was found on Thursday following a confrontation with U.S. Border Patrol Agents.  Aaron Andrew Furness, 38, of Woodbridge, Virginia has been identified as the deceased.

Furness was currently serving in the U.S. Military, according to a Michigan State Police press release which came out shortly before 11 a.m. today, and had been reported missing on Sept. 23, Troopers expressed the belief that he had Michigan connections and was believed to be in the area.

U.S. Border Patrol Agents were assisting in the search for Furness when they followed footprints to a remote cabin on Drummond Island at approximately 2:30 a.m. Thursday. Reports indicate that at least one shot was fired and federal authorities returned fire as they took cover and Furness retreated to the cabin.

Michigan State Police, the Michigan Department of natural Resources, Chippewa County Sheriff's Deputies and a special Emergency Support team all converged on the cabin and attempted to make contact with Furness throughout the morning before eventually finding him deceased at approximately 11 a.m.  An autopsy will be conducted today to determine the cause of death.

Neither one of the Border Patrol Agents were injured in the Thursday morning shoot-out.  Michigan State Police are characterizing this as an isolated incident adding there is nothing to suggest any imminent threat to the Drummond Island community.

Most of the multiples of other news agencies reporting on the events effectively mimicked the news release of the MSP and the story above.  TV 9&10 News added a snippet from the MSP spokesman Soo MSP Post Lt. David Hopper saying:  "We do have some indication that he was having some issues, some family issues perhaps or personal issues that had probably provoked his wanting to get away."

Analysis:

Of importance in this case is that there were two border patrol agents following footprints leading up to a cabin at 2:30 AM in the morning.  Of similar importance is that this marine is not reported as being AWOL or guilty of any sort of crime, rather he was looking to get away from his problems by getting away from it all and going to a remote island. 

Most people are asleep at 2:30 AM.  When they are in a remote area, waken, and hear people outside their house, probably contemplating breaking in and doing who knows what, they get out their gun.  Aaron was a marine, if he shot at these border patrol agents illegally on his property (assuming the cabin was owned or rented by him) and missed, it was likely a warning shot.  There is no indication that these agents ever tried to identify themselves or their motives, but the dead marine is indicative that they were shooting to kill. 

Meanwhile, the Michigan State Police are giving the public a dog and pony show indicating that the bugbear in this shooting was the marine who heroically volunteered his services to his country, who wanted some time alone, but was actually an unfortunate victim.  Meanwhile, the two border patrol agents are not being held to account for their invasion of a person's domicile at 2:30 AM in the morning, allegedly shooting the person they were sent out to find to check on his safety are apparently free and clear to do this again. 

They assure us that:  "There is nothing to suggest this was anything other than a lone incident involving Furness and there is no threat to the Drummond Island community."  If border patrol agents are on Drummond Island going to remote cabins at 2:30 AM after 'following footprints' of someone who a family reports missing, there is indeed a threat to the Drummond Island community, but not from Aaron Andrew Furness who died serving his country, likely shot by inept lawbreaking federal agents of the border patrol working against the ideals of this country in this case.

[shinblind]

.......

[woodsman]

Followed footprints at 230 am in the dark and the picture shows rocky road as the whole area is rocky

and grass and woods what a supreme job of tracking TONTO......

[AQUAMAN]

Strange circumstances and story. Why track anybody in the middle of the night? For element of surprise attack? Why is this Furness in the marines at age 38, kinda late for this isn't it? Story being put-up at this stage is sketchy and libelous at best. Looks like another case of abuse of authority to me, but need more details. 

[Willy]

My question is why did the officers return fire especially in the dark? What if there had been children or other persons in the cabin. I don't know the situation of the Marine but it's common knowledge and common sense that you don't fire a weapon at a target that is unidentifiable. Firing a weapon willy nilly into the dark is a gross offense and if this is what happened then the agents responsible should be prosecuted. 

[Jasper]

Maybe, I missed something about this story, but what did this man do, to cause Border Patrol, State Police, etc...to track him down and allegedly kill him?

[XLFD]

I've did my best to find out what may have precipitated this or anything in the records available to the curious.  Even Facebook friends and family of the decedent, Andrew Furness, have been noncommittal, with a lot of prayers and sympathy for those who knew him, but nothing indicating any more than what is available on the dozens of news stories that effectively repeat the MSP report, and fail to comment on the odd circumstances of the event.

With the exception of some of the commenters to those articles and this website of course.

[AQUAMAN]

Why would an entire "team of men" be sent in to an isolated island for one man? If this was the case of a nationally wanted killer, maybe. But this lone guy? I don't think they figured on taking this man Furness alive to begin with, and made sure he was not going to be captured alive, or escape. This is another story of abuse of powers imho, way over the top, and facts to that effect will continue to be covered up imho. 

[XLFD]

One can only conclude that relevant portions of this story is being covered up by the US Border Patrol, the Michigan State Police, and even the US Marine Corps.  The particulars about Sergeant Furness' death may someday trickle out and show that the authorities left out a lot more than they should have.  I hope Furness' friends and family gets all those answers at the least and are willing to seek those answers out.

[Jasper]

This story does not add up in the least.  Reported missing and two days later 'dead?' IMHO somebody wanted him dead.  More than likely the "true and accurate" story will never, ever come to light.  Dead people can't talk!! 

Why the family has not questioned the death of their loved one is a mystery! 

[douglas snow]

I am friends with the people who own the cabin.

They have no idea who the marine was, didn't know him, he would have been trespassing in the cabin.

large portions of it were destroyed, two windows were removed, entire logs were cut out, bullets were dug out, sticky notes were left behind with forensic codes written on them. The lock to the gate was cut. a mattress was soaked in blood, that had to be removed.

one of the weapons used was 556, which is the only round my friend recovered.

It appears a whole SWAT force hit the cabin though

[AQUAMAN]

Interesting report douglas, thanks. Sounds like something we would here about troops overseas, not in Michigan. Keep us updated on any new information as you find out. 

[XLFD]

Thanks for reminding me once more of this incident, Douglas, for I had failed to look for updates on the situation.  Updates dated on September 29 declared that the autopsy indicated that Furness took his own life sometime that morning he was surrounded by authorities.  There has been no information given concerning the motivations of the authorities and Furness for this confrontation or as to why he was 'missing', and anything reasonable about why he was being tracked by border patrol at 2:30 in the morning, other than they had found Furness' car in a ditch and went a long distance.

There's too many open questions and few answers, I'm going to further explore why this 19 year US Marine (pictured) with an otherwise clean record and life had to die.  Here's his obituary