CHICAGO (WGN) — On Saturday afternoon, federal agents discharged their weapons at a woman reportedly carrying a firearm after their vehicle was rammed and surrounded by a convoy of cars in Chicago.
As reported by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the event took place near West 39th Place and South Kedzie Avenue in the Brighton Park neighborhood.
DHS stated that border patrol agents were on a routine patrol in the area when their vehicle was “attacked and boxed in by 10 cars.”
Agents vacated their immobilized vehicle, and officials claimed that a woman then attempted to drive into them, which prompted the agents to open fire.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin noted in a statement that the woman, who allegedly tried to run over the agents, was also reportedly armed with a “semi-automatic weapon.”
“A driver involved in ramming the enforcement vehicle was equipped with a semi-automatic weapon. Law enforcement was compelled to use their firearms defensively against an armed citizen who subsequently drove herself to a hospital for her injuries,” McLaughlin stated. “Equating ICE to the Nazi Gestapo, the Secret Police, and slave patrols creates dangerous rhetoric. The men and women of ICE and CBP are family members who strive daily to enhance our community’s safety and simply wish to return home each night. The aggression and dehumanization against these law enforcers must cease. Our thoughts are with our officers and their loved ones. As this situation progresses, we will provide further updates to the public as they become available.”
No agents were wounded during the incident.
McLaughlin added that the woman allegedly involved in the incident had been named in a CBP intelligence bulletin last week for allegedly doxing agents online.
Sources confirmed to Nexstar’s WGN that the woman involved suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was hospitalized in critical condition.
Officials from the Chicago Police Department said officers initially responded to the incident when it came in as a call about a person shot, but were not involved in the incident or its investigation.
According to CPD, officers responded to the scene to document the incident and maintain safety, as well as conduct traffic control for those living and working in the area.
The incident comes after weeks of clashes between protesters and federal authorities as they conduct an immigration enforcement operation dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz,” which focuses on Chicago and Illinois.
The operation has been met with intense scrutiny from state and local leaders as well as community members, including those who make up “rapid response teams,” who have been making their presence known on the streets of Chicagoland.
Despite the pushback, more than 900 arrests have been made in the weeks since the operation began.
