U.S. Border Patrol shot a woman Saturday morning on Chicago’s Southwest Side, marking the second shooting since President Donald Trump’s administration launched an aggressive immigration enforcement operation in the area last month.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said the shooting erupted after patrolling agents were “rammed by 10 cars” and “boxed in.” Agents then fired “defensive shots” when they discovered the woman “was armed with a semi-automatic weapon” while driving one of the cars, McLaughlin said.
The Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ have not independently verified the feds’ account. The exact time and location of the shooting weren’t immediately known.
McLaughlin said “no law enforcement officers were seriously injured,” and the wounded woman “drove herself to the hospital to get care for wounds.” But Larry Merritt, a Chicago Fire Department spokesman, said she was found near 39th Street and Kedzie Avenue and taken in fair condition to Mount Sinai Hospital.
Chicago police records shared with the Sun-Times show that a Border Patrol agent had called for assistance, reporting that roughly 30 agents had been “surrounded by a large crowd of people.” But police officials weren’t sent to help, the records show.
A police spokesperson said officers ultimately responded to a call of a person shot in the 3900 block of South Kedzie Avenue “to document the incident” and “maintain safety and traffic control for all living and working in the area.”
But the Chicago Police Department “is not involved in the incident or its investigation. Federal authorities are investigating this shooting, the spokesperson said.
An angry crowd gathered in the area Saturday afternoon to protest the shooting and were met with pepper balls and tear gas deployed by federal agents.
Elizabeth Ruiz said agents had also rammed a vehicle into her son’s truck earlier and taken him into custody. Her 21-year-old son, who is a U.S. citizen, was being held inside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle nearby.
“Why would they take him? He was just at the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Ruiz, 51, of Gage Park. “My son has nothing to do with that. They need to let him go.”
A Brighton Park resident said he looked out the window of his home after hearing roughly four gunshots and saw federal agents. “It’s scary and it’s wrong,” said Matthew, 34, who did not want to share his last name out of fear for his safety.
The shooting comes weeks after federal immigration agents fatally shot a 38-year-old Mexican immigrant during a traffic stop in northwest suburban Franklin Park, officials said.
Silverio Villegas González was killed Sept. 12 when he allegedly resisted arrest and attempted to drive his car into ICE officers, dragging one officer who then opened fire, DHS has said. Villegas González was pronounced dead at a hospital.
DHS reported that the officer who opened fire had been “seriously injured” during the encounter. But body-worn camera footage first obtained by the Sun-Times shows that he described his injuries as “nothing major” shortly after the shooting.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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