US Marshal, suspect struck by gunfire during LA immigration enforcement operation: officials

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) — A U.S. Marshal and the subject of an immigration enforcement action were both injured by gunfire in the Historic South-Central neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday morning after immigration agents fired “defensive shots,” officials have confirmed.

In a statement to Nexstar’s 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.”

KTLA captured aerial footage from Sky5, which showed what appeared to be federal vehicles that had boxed in another vehicle, a tactic that has been used during the ongoing immigration raids.

“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.”

They both suffered non-life-threatening injuries, officials said. 

U.S. Marshals 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 said, adding that it’s policy to refrain from releasing the Marshal’s name.

While the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed they were on scene, they refused to confirm a shooting occurred after initially doing so. The Los Angeles Times confirmed a shooting occurred, citing law enforcement sources.

Police later added on social media that officers were “providing outer perimeter traffic control at the scene of a Federal Investigation. NO LAPD officers involved.”

Sofia Pop Perez contributed to this report.