Slain Border Agent's Family: Find Killers First, Then Probe Officials

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) authorized the sale of thousands of weapons to purchasers for Mexican drug cartels in the controversial Operation Fast and Furious last year. The idea was to trace the weapons to the bad guys.

Brian Terry's family wants information on what led to his murder. (Getty Images Photo)

But two of those weapons were found at the scene of a shootout in December in Arizona, where Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was shot and killed.

Terry’s family wants the government to find and prosecute all the criminals who dealt and used the guns that caused his death.

But Terry’s cousin told The Hill  that the family doesn’t seek criminal prosecution of the federal officials, agents, and officers who were part of the Fast and Furious operation. “Our Number One concern right now is the successful prosecution of Brian’s murderers,” he said.

The Terry family also has retained an attorney to determine its legal options, especially in attempts to get information from the ATF in connection with the agent’s death, according to the Arizona Daily Star.

The botched operations have drawn the wrath of Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California and GOP Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, both of whom have stated that higher-ups in the Department of Justice and ATF should be held accountable.