BREAKING: An officer-involved shooting involving federal immigration agents occurred in San Bernardino on July 15, 2023, during a targeted enforcement operation. The incident unfolded shortly before 9 a.m. at the intersection of Acacia Avenue and Baseline Street, as police responded to reports of shots fired.
Authorities report that immigration agents fired at a vehicle after claiming the driver attempted to escape, striking two officers in the process. A man, whose identity has not been disclosed, later contacted police, stating he had been shot at by masked individuals who broke his car windows.
In an official statement, a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that agents were conducting operations in San Bernardino when the incident escalated. They stated, “In the course of the incident, the suspect drove his car at the officers and struck two CBP officers with his vehicle,” leading to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer discharging his firearm in self-defense.
Video footage shared by the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice shows agents wearing police vests demanding that the man inside the vehicle roll down his window. The man replied in Spanish, “No la voy a abrir,” indicating he would not comply. The video captured the sound of glass shattering followed by gunfire.
“This was a clear abuse of power,” stated the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice in a press release, condemning the actions of the agents who fired on civilians. They emphasized the need to halt such aggressive tactics targeting community members without just cause.
After the shooting, San Bernardino police located the vehicle in the 1000 block of Mt. View Drive and made contact with the driver. However, police indicated it was unclear why federal agents were pursuing him. California law prohibits local law enforcement from assisting in immigration enforcement under the California Values Act, leading police to withdraw from the scene as federal authorities continued their investigation.
Further complicating the situation, a DHS spokesperson mistakenly referred to local police as the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, claiming that the man had been taken into custody before being released. “This decision was made despite the subject refusing to comply and wounding two officers,” the spokesperson stated, criticizing California’s sanctuary policies.
At 1:12 p.m., federal agents requested police assistance as a large crowd gathered during their attempt to arrest the suspect. Police provided crowd control, emphasizing this was not an immigration-related arrest, which would be illegal under California law.
The Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice reported that federal agents did not present a warrant and remained outside the suspect’s residence until 3:45 p.m., pressuring him to come outside. Additionally, they claimed that two community members were detained using excessive force, including one person merely for speaking out.
As the situation develops, federal investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting. This incident raises significant concerns about the escalation of force by federal agents and its implications for community safety.
Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds.
