An immigration officer fatally shot a person who harmed an ICE agent during an arrest in the Chicago area on Friday, federal immigration officers reported.
A spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement stated that officers were executing a vehicle stop as part of a “targeted law enforcement operation” that morning.
The individual confronted during the stop resisted arrest and attempted to drive his car towards the officers, injuring and dragging one in the process, according to ICE. In response to fearing for his safety, the officer used his firearm, hitting the individual, ICE reported.
Photos and video captured by NBC Chicago showed multiple law enforcement vehicles in Franklin Park, where the shooting occurred.
Both the officer and the individual were transported to a hospital where the individual was pronounced dead. The injured officer is in stable condition with significant injuries, according to ICE.
“We hope for our law enforcement officer’s rapid recovery,” stated Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “He adhered to his training, applied necessary force, and effectively enforced the law to ensure public and law enforcement safety.”
The Department of Homeland Security identified the deceased driver as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez. DHS commented that he was the “target of the operation” and that his entry into the United States was “at an unknown date and time.”
DHS accused Villegas-Gonzalez of having “a history of reckless driving.”
The Federal Bureau if Investigations said it was assisting law enforcement officers in response to the incident, NBC Chicago reported.
Villegas-Gonzalez’s death comes on the same week ICE launched its immigration enforcement campaign “Operation Midway Blitz” across the state of Illinois, particularly focusing on Chicago. It was not immediately clear if the enforcement activity that led up to the shooting was part of the campaign.
As part of the campaign, hundreds of ICE agents were expected to use the Great Lakes Naval Base in North Chicago for staging, and a federal immigration facility in suburban Broadview for processing, NBC Chicago reported.
