On September 6, 1989, at 1:45 a.m., Special Agent Keith Connelly was shot by alien smugglers in the city of Fresno, California, where he died shortly thereafter. Agent Connelly was working an undercover operation accompanied by his partner, Ted Jordan, who was also shot but survived the ordeal. The Fresno, California Police Department responded to the emergency assistance call and apprehended the suspects, who were turned over to the FBI for prosecution.

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Keith Connelly joined the U.S. Border Patrol on June 21, 1971, in Chula Vista, California, and was assigned to the San Clemente Station. He then transferred to Rouses Point, New York, in September 1975 and worked along the Northern Border until reassigned to San Clemente in May 1978. In 1983, he was transferred to Fresno, California, where he became a Senior Patrol Agent in December 1986. In August 1988, he was promoted to Special Agent assigned to the Fresno Anti-Smuggling Unit, where he served until his death.