A Border Patrol agent shot and killed a Mexican man who was holding a gun on a group of migrants, foiling the attack and sending other bandits running back into Mexico.

The marksman took the shot from 275 yards, according to Customs and Border Protection.

Agents from the Border Patrol Tactical Unit had been stationed early in the morning on March 3 in the Otay Mountains 70 yards north of the border at a spot in California where migrants have reported being robbed and assaulted as they make their way into the U.S.

The agents saw a group of migrants walking along the road when four people approached them. One displayed a handgun, racking a round into the chamber and pointing it at one of the migrants. The marksman fired one round, striking the man, a 32-year-old Mexican citizen.

Agents attempted CPR and then the emergency-response team gave him an intravenous line and continued CPR but he was pronounced dead after roughly an hour’s attempts at resuscitation.

Agents said they did find 17 migrants in the area.

Three bandits fled back into Mexico.

• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.