American Security Today's 2016 CHAMPIONS EDITION Digital Magazine AST 2016 CHAMPIONS EDITION | Page 115

Fallen ATF Agent Honored with Ariel Rios Federal Building ( Learn More )
Volume 9

Fallen ATF Agent Honored with Ariel Rios Federal Building ( Learn More )

Champions Edition
two suspects were all seriously wounded . The agents were rushed to the hospital and considering their wounds , not expected to live . Agent Rios died shortly thereafter .
Agent D ’ Atri , although wounded five times , miraculously survived after several surgeries and months of recovery . Two defendants were convicted of Federal first degree murder , assault and firearm charges for the death of SA Rios and the wounding of SA D ’ Atri .
Special Agent Ariel Rios , who died in the line of duty on Dec 2 , 1982 ( Image Credit : ATF Twitter )
Ariel Rios ( April 5 , 1954 – December 2 , 1982 ) was an undercover special agent for the United States Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives ( ATF ), killed in the line of duty . He was a member of the Presidential anti-drug task force in South Florida .
Circumstances of Death
Special Agents Ariel Rios and Alex D ’ Atri were working undercover as part of the Vice President ’ s ( George H . W . Bush ) South Florida Task Force .
Three other defendants were convicted on 2nd degree murder and assault charges for the death of SA Rios and wounding of SA D ’ Atri . Seven additional defendants were convicted on conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine charges .
Background
SA Rios joined ATF on December 4 , 1978 . He carried badge # 1527 . Prior to his death , SA Rios was one of the most active and effective agents on the Vice President ’ s Task Force .
The week prior to his murder , SA Rios was the case agent on the seizure of two machine guns and over 100 firearm silencers . Approximately three months earlier , eight people had died and two were wounded during a massacre at the same location where the silencers had been manufactured .
The agents made arrangements to meet with two suspects at the Hurricane Motel in Miami to purchase large quantities of cocaine and machine guns .
The meeting was going well until one suspect suddenly became suspicious . It is believed that he may have observed other law enforcement personnel in the area .
He drew his weapon and made threats and Agent Rios immediately struggled with him . Agent Rios was shot and seriously wounded . Agent D ’ Atri immediately drew his weapon and engaged in a gunfight with both suspects . Agent D ’ Atri and the
Rios ’ widow Elsie with son Francico and daughter Eileen
In an unrelated case several months prior to his
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