By Daniel Borunda
El Paso Times
EL PASO, Texas — A U.S. Border Patrol agent died at a hospital Wednesday after being stabbed during an assault while he was off-duty during the weekend, El Paso police officials said.
Border Patrol Agent Isaac Morales, 30, was fatally wounded when he was stabbed several times in a confrontation in the parking lot of The Union Draft House on Tierra Este Road next to Zaragoza Road, police said.
Morales was “a kind, big hearted person who has the ability to light up any room with just his smile. Isaac has impacted many people, who can all attest to what an amazing person he is,” states an online GoFundMe account set up when he was hospitalized.
Hisaias Justo Lopez, 39, who was initially arrested on a charge of attempted murder, will now face a murder charge, police said. Lopez is being held at the El Paso County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
Shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday, Morales, his girlfriend and another couple were walking to their cars when Lopez began an unprovoked confrontation in the bar parking lot, police said. After Morales identified himself as a Border Patrol agent, Lopez allegedly attacked him with a knife and then ran.
Morales, a friend and witnesses ran after Lopez, who during the chase allegedly turned around and stabbed Morales in the face and an eye, police said.
The others then caught Lopez a block away and held him for police.
Morales’ death comes a day before the annual Border Patrol memorial service at 9 a.m. Thursday at the National Border Patrol Museum, 4315 Trans Mountain Road.
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©2017 the El Paso Times (El Paso, Texas)