In the early hours of December 2 near Santa Cruz Island,California,US Coast Guard BMC Terrell Horne III,34,was killed by two drug smugglers,and his shipmate was injured.Master Chief Boatswain's Mate Horne,the equivalent of a Navy Chief Petty Officer,was second in command of patrol boat Halibut(WPB 87340).He was sent from the Halibut in a small rigid-hull inflatable boat to investigate a panga-style vessel,commonly used in the drug trade,that had been spotted by a patrol plane.The suspicious vessel was operating with no lights on in the dark.
As BMC Horne and his colleague approached,the smugglers gunned their engine and rammed the Coast Guard boat,knocking Horne and his shipmate into the water before they fled the scene.The Coast Guardsmen were rescued,but Horne had sustained a severe head injury.He was pronounced dead at the Port Hueneme pier at 2:21 am.His colleague was treated for minor injuries and released.
The two smugglers were later located and apprehended by a helicopter and 45-foot boat.They were charged with BMC Horne's murder.Horne leaves his pregnant wife and a young child,his Redondo Beach neighbors said.
The Halibut is an 87-foot Marine Protector class patrol boat with a crew of 10.It is armed with two .50-caliber machine guns.
BMC Horne was praised for his sacrifice by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in a statement.The Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security.
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