By Lauren Mascarenhas, Danya Gainor, Taylor Galgano, CNN
(CNN) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents shot a man, who was then taken to a hospital, after they conducted a targeted traffic stop in California’s Central Valley, the agency said Tuesday.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said in a statement the ICE officers fired defensive shots after the person they stopped attempted to run an agent over.
The shooting happened near Interstate 5 in Patterson, about 90 miles south of Sacramento.
The Department of Homeland Security statement identified the target of the vehicle stop as Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, an undocumented immigrant and “18th Street Gang member wanted in El Salvador for questioning in connection to a murder.”
“As officers approached the car, the wanted gang member weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run an officer over. Following their training, our officers fired defensive shots to protect themselves, their fellow agents, and the public,” the statement continued.
CNN is working to determine whether Mendoza Hernandez has an attorney.
Two dashcam videos obtained by CNN captured the incident, as a car is seen crossing over the highway lane divider after being surrounded by agents, while one agent runs out of the way of the car. It’s not clear exactly when agents fired at the vehicle because the footage does not have sound.
DHS says its agents have been the target of increasing violence, citing more than 180 vehicle attacks since Trump’s second term started. But the administration’s initial accounts of shootings involving federal agents have, in some cases, changed over time – or been proven wrong altogether.
“As is established practice, we expect our federal law enforcement partners to appropriately collaborate with state and local law enforcement as this matter is investigated,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said on X.
The FBI is conducting an investigation, Acting Special Agent in Charge Eugene Wu said. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office told CNN it’s assisting, and it confirmed no local law enforcement was involved with the incident.
“If you have any videos or information that will help our investigation, we welcome your information,” Wu said in a plea to the public at a brief news conference Tuesday afternoon.
Dashcam footage captures incident
At least three law enforcement agents are seen surrounding a black vehicle on a road near Interstate 5, video obtained by CNN shows. The black vehicle then backs up and its passenger-side door hits another car on the road.
Agents then point their guns at the vehicle as it stops for about two seconds. The car then turns left and crosses over the highway lane divider, while an agent runs out of the way of the car.
It’s not clear when exactly agents fired at the vehicle.
Christina Valencia, whose Tesla captured one of the videos obtained by CNN, said she noticed the flashing lights from her car.
“All of a sudden I heard like a shot fired… and then maybe like 10 seconds later, I heard about five or six more go off,” she said. She believes that an agent first fired after the car reversed, but before it started to drive over the lane divider.
CARPINTERIA, Calif. (KEYT) – A human body was discovered in the 4400 block of La Tierra Lane Monday evening.
Your News Channel was able to confirm that the body was discovered over a retaining wall and potentially near or inside of a vehicle.
According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to the scene at 6:15 p.m. Monday evening and detectives are investigating the death, but no official designation has been made regarding the circumstances of the unidentified person's demise.
Forensic experts responded to the scene Monday evening and details about the deceased have not been made available at this point in the investigation.
This is an evolving law enforcement response and more information will be added to this article as it is received.
The post Body discovered off La Tierra Lane Monday night appeared first on News Channel 3-12.
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