Illegal Alien Gangster Attempts Cop-Killing Car Attack, ICE Responds With a Lead Infusion [WATCH]

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents opened fire during an arrest operation in Patterson, California, on Tuesday afternoon after a wanted Salvadoran national allegedly attempted to strike officers with a vehicle, according to federal officials.

The incident took place in Stanislaus County near Interstate 5, close to the Sperry Avenue and Diablo Grande Parkway exit, during what ICE described as a targeted enforcement action.

Agents were attempting to arrest Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, whom ICE identified as a Salvadoran national in the country illegally and a member of the 18th Street Gang.

Authorities in El Salvador are seeking Hernandez for questioning in connection with a murder investigation.

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According to acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, agents initiated a vehicle stop as part of the operation.

“ICE officers were conducting a targeted vehicle stop in Patterson, CA to arrest Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, an 18th Street Gang member wanted in El Salvador for questioning in connection to a murder. As officers approached the car, the wanted gang member weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run an officer over,” Lyons told Fox News.

Lyons said agents responded in line with their training after the vehicle was allegedly used against them.

“Following their training, our officers fired defensive shots to protect themselves, their fellow agents, and the public. The illegal alien was taken to a local hospital. The FBI is on the scene. This is a developing situation and we will update the public when more information is available.”

Hernandez was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the shooting.

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As of the latest available information, officials have not released details regarding the severity of his injuries or whether any agents were injured during the incident.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the inquiry into the shooting, consistent with standard procedures for incidents involving federal officers.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies are assisting in the investigation. Portions of Interstate 5 were shut down for several hours following the event, according to reporting from KNTV.

Video of the incident has circulated online, including dash camera footage that shows several agents surrounding a black vehicle during the stop.

The footage appears to show the vehicle suddenly accelerating backward before turning in the direction of at least two agents. Agents then fired their weapons as the driver attempted to leave the scene.

Additional aerial footage shows multiple agents gathered near a silver sedan in the aftermath of the shooting.

Authorities have not released any officer-worn body camera footage related to the incident as of this report.

Officials have not provided further details regarding Hernandez’s criminal history within the United States.

ICE has identified him as a member of the 18th Street Gang, a transnational criminal organization that originated in Los Angeles and has documented ties to violent crime, according to the FBI.

The investigation remains ongoing as federal authorities continue to review the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

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