UPDATE: An Ontario man has been charged with assault on a federal officer following a dramatic confrontation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers that ended with him being shot. The incident occurred on October 30, 2023, during a planned immigration enforcement operation in Ontario, California.
Newly released court documents reveal that Carlos Jimenez, the driver involved, engaged in a heated argument with ICE officers prior to the shooting. According to the complaint, Jimenez reversed his SUV towards the officers after initially driving away from the scene, prompting one officer to fire a shot that struck him in the shoulder.
The confrontation began when an enforcement team, comprising ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, stopped a Honda Accord going southbound on Vineyard Avenue. As officers spoke to the vehicle’s occupants, Jimenez approached in his Lexus RX350 and initiated a verbal altercation.
According to the affidavit, after a brief exchange, an officer instructed Jimenez to leave the area. However, he abruptly reversed his vehicle back towards the officers and the stopped Honda, leading to a tense moment where officers feared for their safety. The officer who fired the shot reported feeling threatened as Jimenez accelerated backwards.
Following the shooting, Jimenez managed to drive away from the scene but later checked himself into a nearby hospital for treatment. After being medically cleared, he was taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
At Jimenez’s initial court appearance on November 3, 2023, protests erupted outside the George E. Brown Jr. federal building in support of him. Demonstrators criticized federal immigration policies, holding signs that read “Melt ICE Dump Trump” and “ICE out of the Inland Empire.” One protester, Ana Wilson, stated, “They are breaking the law in the name of law enforcement,” highlighting the emotional and divisive nature of the incident.
Authorities have not yet provided details on the immigration status of the occupants in the Honda Accord involved in the original stop. As the investigation continues, the implications of this incident resonate deeply, igniting discussions around immigration enforcement tactics and public safety.
This developing story raises urgent questions about law enforcement conduct and the ongoing debate over immigration policies in the United States. As more details emerge, the community remains on high alert regarding the implications of federal actions in local neighborhoods.
For the latest updates, stay tuned as this story unfolds.
