Photo: PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP / Getty Images
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were involved in a shooting while attempting to arrest a man identified as Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez. According to a statement from Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, the incident occurred during a "targeted vehicle stop" on Tuesday (April 7) in Patterson, California.
Hernandez is allegedly a member of the notorious 18th Street Gang and is wanted in El Salvador for questioning related to a murder case.
ICE officers had been tracking Hernandez, who is considered a dangerous individual due to his alleged gang affiliations. The 18th Street Gang, also known as Barrio 18, is one of Central America's most violent criminal networks and has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. State Department.
The operation aimed to apprehend Hernandez safely, but the situation escalated, leading to the shooting. Lyons said that as the officers tried to detain Hernandez, he "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 FBI was called to the scene and is assisting in the investigation.
Officials said that Hernandez was taken to the hospital after the shooting but they did not provide details about his injuries or condition.