Daijiworld Media Network - Portland
Portland, Jan 9: Two people were injured in a shooting involving a US Border Patrol agent in Portland on Thursday, an incident federal authorities have described as an act of self-defence during a targeted vehicle stop. The episode has triggered sharp reactions from local leaders and comes amid heightened tension following a fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis a day earlier.
According to Portland police, officers responded to reports of a shooting around 2.15 pm in the Hazelwood area of east Portland. Shortly after, police received another call from a man seeking help nearly three miles away, where a male and a female were found with gunshot wounds. Both were given first aid and rushed to hospital, though their conditions were not disclosed.
On Friday, the US Department of Homeland Security identified the injured persons as alleged associates of the Tren de Aragua gang. The driver, identified as Luis David Nico Moncada, is accused of illegally entering the US in 2022, while the passenger, Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, allegedly entered the country in 2023 and is suspected of links to a prostitution ring connected to the gang.
Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said Border Patrol agents were conducting a targeted stop when the driver allegedly attempted to run them over using his vehicle. “Fearing for his life and safety, an agent fired defensive shots,” she said, adding that the vehicle fled the scene despite the gunfire.
Federal sources said the red Toyota struck one of the agents as it tried to escape, prompting the shooting. However, Portland police said they could not independently verify these claims, as local officers arrived after the incident. Police Chief Bob Day stated that the FBI is leading the investigation and that city police are providing support.
The FBI’s Portland office confirmed it is probing an alleged assault on federal officers involving two Customs and Border Protection agents, noting that the injured individuals fled the scene before seeking medical help.
The shooting has drawn comparisons to an incident in Minneapolis a day earlier, where a US citizen and mother, Renee Nicole Good, was fatally shot by an ICE officer. In that case too, Homeland Security claimed self-defence, a version disputed by the city’s mayor and eyewitnesses.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson condemned the Hazelwood shooting and called for a halt to ICE operations in the city until a full investigation is completed. “Portland does not respond to violence with violence. We respond with clarity, unity, and a commitment to justice,” he said.
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners also criticised the incident, saying violence and fear linked to ICE operations in local neighbourhoods must end. Authorities have urged the public to remain calm as investigations continue.