Immigration Enforcement Operations in California: Two Incidents, Two Days
Federal agents fired weapons in two separate immigration enforcement operations in California this week, resulting in one suspect shot and hospitalized, another arrested unharmed, and a Customs and Border Protection officer injured.
Incident 1: Patterson Shooting (April 7)
An operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Patterson, California, on Tuesday, April 7, resulted in the shooting of a suspect.
The Operation and Charges
ICE agents conducted a targeted vehicle stop to arrest Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, 36, a Salvadoran national. Prosecutors allege that Hernandez refused to exit his vehicle near an onramp to the 5 Freeway. According to prosecutors, Hernandez then drove forward, striking an agent, reversed into a law enforcement vehicle, and drove directly at two agents before crossing a median and driving the wrong way against traffic. Agents subsequently fired multiple shots, hitting Hernandez. He was hospitalized for six days before being medically cleared.
On a subsequent date, a federal grand jury indicted Hernandez on two counts of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon and one count of destruction of government property. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years on each assault count and up to 10 years on the destruction charge, with the final sentence determined by the court.
Conflicting Accounts of the Shooting
- ICE Account: Todd Lyons, acting director of ICE, stated that agents fired defensive shots after Hernandez "weaponized his vehicle" in an attempt to strike an officer.
- Defense Account: Hernandez's attorney, Patrick Kolasinski, and at least one eyewitness claim that agents fired first, causing Hernandez to panic and attempt to drive away. Hernandez maintains he was shot at before moving his vehicle.
Video from KCRA 3 shows officers surrounding Hernandez's vehicle. The footage shows the car reversing, striking a pickup truck, then moving forward and narrowly missing two officers, who then open fire.
Additional Details
- Following the shooting, agents removed Hernandez's clothing and left him handcuffed and naked on the roadside, according to his attorney.
- Lyons alleged that Hernandez is a member of the 18th Street Gang and is wanted in El Salvador for questioning regarding a murder. Kolasinski disputes this, stating his client was acquitted of murder charges in El Salvador and is not a gang member. The indictment does not reference gang affiliation or murder.
- This incident is the sixth shooting involving federal immigration agents in California since August 2025.
- The FBI is investigating the incident.
Incident 2: Willowbrook Shooting (April 8)
A federal agent discharged a weapon during an operation in Willowbrook, California, on Wednesday morning.
The Operation and Arrest
The operation, which originated in Compton, was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) was informed by the Border Patrol shortly after 7 a.m. that an operation was underway. The shooting occurred near the intersection of 126th Street and Mona Boulevard.
The target of the operation was William Eduardo Moran Carballo. DHS identified Carballo as a "violent criminal illegal alien from El Salvador." DHS stated that Carballo is involved in human smuggling and has two prior arrests for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant. An immigration judge issued a final order for Carballo's removal in 2019.
Confrontation and Agent Action
According to DHS, Carballo attempted to evade arrest by ramming law enforcement with his vehicle. DHS reported that "fearing for his life and safety, an agent fired defensive shots." Carballo was not struck by the gunfire and attempted to flee on foot but was subsequently apprehended.
Injuries
Carballo sustained no injuries. A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer was injured during the incident; specific details regarding the officer's injury were not provided. A damaged BMW sedan was observed at the scene, having crashed into a curb with a deployed airbag visible on the driver's side.
Responding Authorities
Responding to the scene were multiple federal agents in tactical gear, along with LASD deputies and California Highway Patrol officers. DHS indicated that the situation is ongoing and further information would be released.
Both incidents mark an escalation in federal immigration enforcement actions in California, with two separate operations resulting in weapons discharge within a 24-hour period.