LA JOYA, Tex. (AP) — A Texas state trooper who fired on a pickup truck from a helicopter during a deadly chase through the desert was trying to disable the vehicle and suspected that it was being used to smuggle drugs, the authorities said.The disclosure on Friday came a day after the episode, which left two illegal immigrants from Guatemala dead on a gravel road near here, just north of the Mexican border.

Eight people were arrested; most were from Guatemala. Investigators said no drugs were found.