Federal officers were involved in a shooting Tuesday morning following an encounter with a fugitive wanted for murder in El Salvador. The incident occurred during a targeted operation near Interstate 5 in Stanislaus County.
The suspect, identified as Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, is allegedly a member of the 18th Street Gang. Authorities had been tracking Mendoza Hernandez due to his reported involvement in a murder investigation in his home country.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons stated the confrontation began during a tactical traffic stop. Officers moved to apprehend the suspect when he allegedly attempted to use his vehicle to run over the agents on the scene.
“The officers discharged their firearms in self-defense and in defense of the public,” Lyons stated during a press update. He noted that the agents followed tactical training when faced with a lethal threat from the moving vehicle.
Aerial and ground footage from the scene showed a silver sedan stopped on the highway shoulder, surrounded by multiple law enforcement vehicles and yellow police tape. Investigators were seen processing the area as traffic slowed near the I-5 interchange.
Mendoza Hernandez was struck during the exchange and was immediately transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. His current condition has not been disclosed, and he remains under guard by federal personnel.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation into the shooting, which is standard procedure for incidents involving the discharge of weapons by federal agents. Local sheriff's deputies are also providing support at the scene.
Under the Trump administration, ICE has ramped up enforcement specifically targeting foreign nationals with violent criminal backgrounds. This operation was part of a broader initiative to locate and remove high-threat gang members.
No officers were reported injured during the encounter. The scene remained active for several hours Tuesday as forensic teams completed their sweep of the silver sedan and the surrounding roadway.
Lyons emphasized that the agency remains committed to prioritizing the removal of individuals who pose a threat to public safety. Mendoza Hernandez is expected to face federal charges related to the confrontation in addition to his extradition proceedings.