San Diego Union-Tribune May 21, 2002 Mexican soldier's shot at U.S. agent investigated Marcus Stern  COPLEY NEWS SERVICE  May 21, 2002  WASHINGTON – A Mexican soldier fired at and struck a Border Patrol vehicle along a remote stretch of the Arizona-Mexico border Friday night, U.S. and Mexican government sources said yesterday. Officials of both governments were meeting yesterday to try to unravel the confusion surrounding the incident, which occurred not far from where officials of the two countries plan to launch a public awareness campaign Thursday to promote summer border safety. It also comes at a time of heightened tension over alleged incursions by Mexican military and law enforcement officers along the southwest border. It was unclear yesterday whether a border incursion had occurred during the Friday incident and, if so, whether it had been made by the soldiers or the agent. U.S. and Mexican authorities said it began when a Border Patrol agent based in Ajo, in western Arizona, saw headlights near the border and went to investigate. "When he got there he saw it was a Mexican military vehicle," said Bill Strassberger of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. "He began to leave the area. His back window was shot out. The bullet passed through the front window." Mexican officials would not comment publicly. One Mexican official said its military has been conducting a counter-drug operation in the area. A U.S. official said drug smuggling and Mexican military activity have intensified there during the past several weeks.