Rhode Island man indicted for firing AR style pistol at Border Patrol in Vermont

LEBANON, N.H. — A Rhode Island man is facing serious federal charges after allegedly firing a gun at U.S. Border Patrol agents after a high-speed chase last summer.

Brendan Sackal, 32, of Rockville, RI, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Vermont on May 29.

He is accused of:

• Assaulting federal officers with a deadly weapon
• Possessing an unregistered machine gun

Rhode Island State Police had notified New Hampshire and Vermont law enforcement that they believed Sackal, who was wanted on illegal high-capacity firearms magazine charges, was in the area.

A U.S. Border Patrol agent saw Sackal’s truck in New Hampshire and pulled him over, but Sackal sped off into Vermont. After a tire deflation device was used on his truck, he eventually lost control and crashed into two police vehicles.

Authorities say Sackal then fired a privately made AR-style pistol at agents who fired back injuring him.

He now faces a minimum of 30 years to life if convicted on all federal charges — in addition to 17 state charges, including attempted aggravated murder.

📸: Vermont State Police