ICE Agents Shoot Suspect in California Arrest Operation
Federal immigration officers shot and wounded a man during a targeted arrest operation in central California on Tuesday, authorities said. The incident occurred in Patterson, Stanislaus County, near Interstate 5, when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents approached a vehicle driven by Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, who allegedly attempted to run over an officer.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the agents were conducting a planned vehicle stop to apprehend Hernandez, identified as a suspected member of the 18th Street Gang and wanted in El Salvador for questioning in connection with a murder. As officers neared the car, Hernandez drove toward one of them, prompting the agents to fire shots in self-defense, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said in a statement. "Following their training, our officers fired defensive shots to protect themselves, their fellow agents, and the public," Lyons stated.
Hernandez was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries, though officials have not released details on his condition. No agents were harmed in the encounter. The Federal Bureau of Investigation responded to the scene and is leading an...