In Chicago, federal authorities discharged their weapons at a woman reportedly wielding a gun after their vehicle was struck and surrounded by multiple cars on Saturday afternoon.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that the situation occurred around West 39th Place and South Kedzie Avenue in the Brighton Park region.
Officials from the DHS stated that border patrol agents were on a standard patrol when they were purportedly “attacked by vehicles and hemmed in by approximately 10 cars.”
Upon leaving their immobilized vehicle, agents were met with an attempted assault by a female suspect who allegedly tried to run them down, prompting the agents to retaliate by firing their weapons.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement, noting that the woman, who reportedly tried to hit the agents, was also allegedly in possession of a “semi-automatic weapon.”
“A driver involved in the collision with the enforcement vehicle was armed with a semi-automatic gun. Law enforcement officers had to engage defensively and fired upon an armed U.S. citizen who subsequently drove herself to the hospital for treatment,” McLaughlin stated. “The baseless comparisons of ICE to the Nazi Gestapo, Secret Police, and slave patrols are harmful. The individuals serving in ICE and CBP are parents and children, committed to keeping communities safe. Like anyone else, they aspire to return safely to their families each day. The hostility and demonization of these individuals, who are merely upholding the law, must end. We extend our prayers to law enforcement officers and their families. This situation is developing, and further updates will be provided to the public as soon 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.
