Editor’s Note: The video previously embedded in this article has been removed due to the inclusion of unverified information within a live report.
A federal agent and a person who is allegedly in the United States illegally were struck by gunfire during an immigration raid in Historic South-Central Tuesday morning.
The shooting occurred before 9 a.m. in the 400 block of East 20th Street, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Aerial footage from Sky5 showed what appeared to be federal vehicles that had boxed in another vehicle, a tactic that has been used during the ongoing immigration raids.
In a statement to KTLA, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said preliminary information indicates that “an illegal alien—who had previously escaped from custody—attempted to evade arrest yet again” when he “weaponized his vehicle and began ramming the law enforcement vehicle in an attempt to flee.”
“Fearing for the safety of the public and law enforcement, our officers followed their training and fired defensive shots,” McLaughlin said. “The illegal alien was shot in the elbow and one law enforcement officer was shot in the hand by a ricochet bullet. Both are in the hospital.”
U.S. Marshals Service confirmed the wounded agent is a member of their agency and added in a statement that “the Marshals were attempting to assist in an arrest of a suspect wanted for illegal entry.”
“A Deputy US Marshal sustained non-life threatening injuries during an immigration enforcement operation. The Deputy’s condition is currently listed as stable. The incident is now under investigation,” the Marshals Service said, adding that it’s policy to refrain from releasing the Marshal’s name.
Both the deputy marshal and the person targeted by the immigration raid were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The agent was taken to California Hospital Medical Center, where protesters gathered on Tuesday.
The FBI said they are handling the investigation into the shooting.
“An FBI Evidence Response Team is currently processing the scene. The FBI is working with our federal partners with the U.S. Marshals Service and the Department of Homeland Security, as well as local partners with the Los Angeles Police Department, whose officers provided outer perimeter traffic control,” the agency said on social media. “No FBI Agents were involved in the shooting incident.”
Police added on social media that officers are “providing outer perimeter traffic control at the scene of a Federal Investigation. NO LAPD officers involved.”
In response to the raid and shooting, Union del Barrio and the Community Self-Defense Coalition are hosting a rally and protest at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The event at 1980 Maple Ave. will also criticize the Los Angeles Unified School District, as nearby Santee High School wasn’t locked down long enough “even though dozens of federal agents were in front of the high school after the incident,” according to Union del Barrio.
An LAUSD spokesperson noted that the lockdown, which lasted an hour and a half, was lifted after law enforcement determined “there is no evidence of a credible threat to our campus.”
“We are also aware of a photo circulating that shows Homeland Security in front of our school earlier today; please note that federal immigration enforcement agents did not come on campus, nor did they make any requests of the school … We remain committed to maintaining the safety and well-being of our school community and appreciate your continued support,” the statement said.
Sofia Pop Perez contributed to this report.
