California family demands answers after ICE agents shot at car
Share this @internewscast.com

(KTLA) A family in San Bernardino is demanding a criminal investigation following an incident where federal immigration officers opened fire on their vehicle last week. This event quickly intensified into a tense standoff and has sparked days of protests in the local area.

On Aug. 16, Francisco Longoria was driving home with his teenage son and his daughter’s boyfriend when, according to attorneys for the family, several masked individuals in mismatched uniforms jumped out of an unmarked vehicle and surrounded them. The family said they asked for identification but received no response. Without warning, one of the men smashed the driver’s side window and struck Longoria, who then drove away in fear. Moments later, shots rang out. At least three bullets struck the car door near where Longoria’s son was seated, the family’s attorneys said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have confirmed that agents were involved in the incident but offered a different account. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Longoria refused to exit his vehicle and drove toward officers, injuring two. That, the spokesperson said, “forced a CBP officer to discharge his firearm in self-defense.”

No one in the family’s vehicle was struck by the gunfire.

The confrontation set off a chain of events that lasted most of the day. After leaving the scene, Longoria called police, telling dispatchers that “masked men” had broken his window and shot at his car. 

San Bernardino police said officers responded but did not intervene directly, citing state law that limits local participation in federal immigration enforcement. By late morning, multiple law enforcement vehicles surrounded the family’s home, where advocates said the family feared leaving after the shooting. Agents ultimately departed hours later without making an arrest.

The Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, which has been working with the family, said Longoria has no criminal record and was targeted without legal justification. The group has demanded accountability from federal officials and local police.

The incident has already sparked visible community backlash. On Monday, protesters gathered outside the San Bernardino Police Department, carrying signs and denouncing the actions of federal agents. “It doesn’t seem they’re protecting us,” one advocate said. “It seems they’re protecting these bounty hunters and kidnappers.”

Attorneys for the Longoria family plan to present new evidence Friday at a press conference in San Bernardino, where the damaged vehicle will be displayed. “This was a ruthless and violent attack,” attorney Robert Simon of the Justice Team said in a statement. “The family feels they were targeted, racially profiled, and nearly kidnapped by unknown individuals.”

The family is now demanding a full criminal investigation into the shooting. “Mr. Longoria and his family have been here for decades,” the attorneys said. “They are hardworking people without any criminal record. They deserve answers.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Police Search for Suspect After Numerous Rabbits Harmed and Killed by Blow Darts

Graphic Warning: This story contains graphic images or video that may be…

Bridge Collapse in China Results in the Tragic Loss of 12 Construction Workers

This aerial photo released by Xinhua News Agency shows the site of…

Hampton County Police to Increase DUI Patrols

The Hampton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) will be enhancing impaired driving enforcement…

Virginia Giuffre’s Family Claims DOJ Allowed Ghislaine Maxwell to ‘Change the Narrative’

Relatives of a well-known survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse expressed “outrage”…

Individual Named ‘Babe’ Ruth Faces Fraud Allegations for Using Names of Deceased Baseball Legends

A man from Tennessee is now facing over 90 federal charges after…

Survey Reveals Trump’s Disapproval Rating Jumps to 56%

(The Hill) — A recent survey indicates that President Trump’s disapproval rating…

Trump Introduced Two New Holidays: When Will the Upcoming One Take Place?

Video above: Trump designates Thursday May 8 as ‘Victory Day’ for US…

Blame His Favorite Sports Team: 323 Days Without a Haircut!

Manchester United began their season with a 1-0 loss to Arsenal at…

Champaign County Groups Rally to Aid Community on Scott Bennett Family Resources Day

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — On Friday, Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana transformed…

Haley Criticizes Trump Administration’s Intelligence Agreement as a Misstep

Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley condemned the Trump administration’s decision to…

Lakeland Woman Taken Into Custody for Fatal Hit-and-Run Incident: Polk County Sheriff

LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — A woman in Lakeland has been taken into…

Expensive Dorm Transformations Change the Game for Back-to-School Shopping

Sending a freshman off to college is often an expensive endeavor, and…