An 18th Street Gang member in the country illegally was shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents Tuesday after he attempted to use his vehicle to run over federal officers during an arrest operation near Interstate 5.
ICE Director Todd Lyons identified the suspect as Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, a gang member wanted for questioning in connection with a murder in El Salvador. Agents stopped Hernandez’s vehicle in Patterson, California, when he “weaponized his vehicle in attempt to run an officer over,” Lyons said.
Agents fired in response, striking Hernandez. He was hospitalized, and his condition was unclear as of Tuesday afternoon. No federal agents were injured.
“Following their training, our officers fired defensive shots to protect themselves, their fellow agents, and the public,” Lyons said.
The 18th Street Gang is among the largest criminal organizations in Los Angeles, with extensive membership drawn from Mexico and Central America. Footage captured by KCRA Channel 3 Sacramento showed multiple vehicles parked under an interstate overpass as authorities assessed the scene.
The FBI’s Sacramento field office confirmed it dispatched agents to the site following the shooting.
California Governor Gavin Newsom was briefed. His office issued a brief statement: “As is established practice, we expect our federal law enforcement partners to appropriately collaborate with state and local law enforcement as this matter is investigated.”
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office said none of its deputies were involved in the stop or the shooting.
The incident comes as ICE agents report a sharp surge in attacks. According to the Department of Homeland Security, vehicular attacks targeting ICE officers have spiked 3,300% in the past year.
Newsom has repeatedly clashed with the Trump administration over immigration enforcement in California. While Newsom claims state and local agencies cooperate with federal agents and hand over convicted illegal immigrants, California law tightly restricts cooperation between local police and ICE.
The California shooting follows an episode in Minneapolis several months ago where two anti-ICE agitators were shot and killed, triggering weeks of protests and calls from Democratic leaders to defund the agency. President Trump subsequently reorganized the Department of Homeland Security, replacing Kristi Noem with Markwayne Mullin as Secretary and demoting former Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Greg Bovino.
