UPDATE: An Ontario man, Carlos Jimenez, has been charged with assault on a federal officer following a dramatic confrontation with immigration officials that resulted in a shooting. The incident occurred on October 30 during a planned immigration enforcement operation, prompting immediate legal and public reactions.
According to court documents filed in Riverside, Jimenez allegedly engaged in a heated argument with officers before reversing his SUV towards them, prompting one officer to fire a shot that struck him in the shoulder. This tense situation unfolded while federal officers were conducting an enforcement operation on a Honda Accord on Vineyard Avenue in Ontario.
Witnesses report that Jimenez initially pulled up in his Lexus RX350 and confronted the officers, leading to escalating tensions. After a verbal altercation, officers instructed him to leave the scene. However, instead of complying, Jimenez reversed his vehicle at a high speed toward the officers, who feared for their safety.
The officer’s shot struck Jimenez, who then drove away from the scene and later sought medical attention at a nearby hospital. After being treated and released, he was taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations.
The incident ignited protests outside the George E. Brown Jr. federal building during Jimenez’s initial court appearance on Friday evening. Demonstrators voiced their opposition to federal immigration enforcement, with signs reading “Melt ICE Dump Trump” and calls to remove ICE from the Inland Empire. Protester Ana Wilson stated, “They are breaking the law in the name of law enforcement.”
While Jimenez’s family confirmed he drove himself home after the shooting, details surrounding the immigration enforcement operation on the Honda Civic’s occupants remain unclear. The incident raises significant questions about federal enforcement practices and public safety.
As this story develops, it highlights ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the region. Public scrutiny over the actions of federal officers is likely to continue, especially as communities react to the implications of such confrontations.
Stay tuned for further updates on this urgent situation.
