LOS ANGELES — A federal immigration operation in South Los Angeles turned chaotic Tuesday morning when an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent’s bullet ricocheted, wounding a deputy U.S. marshal and a bystander — a local TikTok streamer known for documenting law enforcement activity.
The incident, which occurred shortly after 9 a.m. near the Santee Education Complex, has reignited debate over the use of force by federal immigration agents operating in densely populated urban areas.
Chaotic Scene During “Targeted Enforcement” Stop
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the operation was aimed at apprehending an undocumented immigrant who had previously escaped custody. Officials said the suspect attempted to flee by ramming law enforcement vehicles during a “targeted enforcement traffic stop.”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said agents “feared for the safety of the public and law enforcement” when the suspect “weaponized his vehicle,” prompting ICE officers to open fire.
Witnesses described a scene of panic as gunfire erupted near homes and a school. Among those struck was a popular TikTok live streamer known online as Richard LA, who has gained more than 130,000 followers for broadcasting real-time footage of immigration raids across Los Angeles.
Collateral Damage and Public Outcry
Richard’s attorney, Carlos Jurado, said his client was not involved in the operation and was standing outside recording when he was shot.
“Richard is a pacifist — a calm, hardworking man with no criminal record,” Jurado told reporters. “He’s been recognized by the City of Los Angeles for his civic work. He just happened to be there, doing what he always does — filming.”
A deputy U.S. marshal was also struck in the hand by a ricocheted bullet, officials confirmed. Both men were hospitalized — one in fair condition, the other in serious condition — but neither suffered life-threatening injuries, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Neighborhood Protests and Political Fallout
As word spread, angry residents and community activists flooded the area, denouncing the federal operation and its proximity to a high school.
Videos posted online showed residents shouting at federal agents and accusing local police of cooperating with immigration authorities.
Felipe Careces, a member of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, said his organization began receiving calls shortly after 9 a.m.
“When we heard ICE was outside a school, we rushed over,” Careces said. “By the time we got here, people were terrified. There were kids in classrooms just a block away.”
Los Angeles Councilmember Curren Price voiced support for Richard LA, describing him as “a pillar of the community” whose work has “uplifted the unheard voices of South Central Los Angeles.”
Federal Defense and Investigations Underway
Federal officials defended the agents’ actions, calling the shooting a lawful response to a dangerous situation.
“A vehicle is a deadly weapon,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli in a statement posted to X. “Using it against law enforcement justifies the use of deadly force in self-defense.”
McLaughlin blamed what she called “rhetoric from sanctuary politicians and activists,” saying it encourages “illegal aliens to resist arrest,” putting everyone at greater risk.
However, critics say federal agents’ training and engagement tactics differ sharply from those of many local police departments. Agencies in cities like Chicago and San Francisco explicitly discourage officers from firing at moving vehicles unless a separate weapon is involved, citing the risk of hitting bystanders or fellow officers.
Pattern of Force Under Scrutiny
Tuesday’s shooting adds to a growing list of controversial ICE and Border Patrol incidents involving vehicles. In San Bernardino, federal agents fired into a car during an August immigration stop, claiming the driver rammed their vehicle — a case later dismissed in court. In Chicago, a woman was shot at five times by a Border Patrol agent under similar circumstances.
Two senior Democratic members of Congress have already announced plans to open a formal inquiry into the use of force by ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents. Lawmakers are seeking details from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem about the training protocols that govern such operations.
Multiple Federal Agencies Now Involved
The U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI have all launched reviews into the South Los Angeles incident.
For now, questions remain about how a targeted traffic stop turned into a chaotic confrontation that left a federal officer and a civilian wounded — in the middle of a residential neighborhood and within sight of a local school.