Credited from: LATIMES
On April 7, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shot Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez in Patterson, California, after he allegedly tried to ram an officer with his vehicle. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons described the incident as defensive, stating, "As officers approached the car, the wanted gang member weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run an officer over," according to Reuters and Los Angeles Times.
The shooting occurred during a vehicle stop aimed at arresting Hernandez, who is wanted in El Salvador for questioning related to a murder. The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office confirmed that while ICE conducted the shooting, no local law enforcement was involved in the incident. Local traffic around Interstate 5 was severely disrupted due to the event, leading to closed ramps and significant delays, as reported by India Times and Los Angeles Times.
The FBI is actively investigating the incident alongside ICE and local authorities, with more details about Hernandez's condition forthcoming. This incident marks a significant event in ongoing discussions about the safety of law enforcement personnel, particularly concerning the rise in vehicular assaults against them, as highlighted in Reuters and India Times.