U.S. Marshal and Suspect Injured in Los Angeles Immigration Enforcement Operation

On Tuesday, a U.S. Marshal and a TikTok content creator were wounded by gunfire from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during an immigration operation in South Los Angeles.

The shooting occurred during a “targeted enforcement traffic stop” involving an individual not authorized to reside in the U.S., who had “previously fled custody” and was attempting to escape arrest once more, according to a statement from Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

Both the deputy marshal and the suspect, identified as Carlitos Ricardo Parias, sustained gunshot wounds, as confirmed by United States Attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli, in a statement. Both individuals are expected to recover.

“Concerned for public and officer safety, our officers acted according to their training and discharged defensive shots,” McLaughlin explained. “The unauthorized immigrant was hit in the elbow, while a law enforcement officer was struck in the hand by a bullet that ricocheted. Both are currently hospitalized.”

The U.S. Marshals further clarified in a statement to KTLA that “the Marshals were assisting in the arrest of a suspect sought for illegal entry.”

“A Deputy US Marshal sustained non-life threatening injuries during an immigration enforcement operation. The Deputy’s condition is currently listed as stable. The incident is now under investigation,” the Marshals said, adding that it’s policy to refrain from releasing the Marshal’s name.

Parias, 44, faces one count of assault on a federal officer, Essayli’s office said. Parias could face a statutory maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison. 

After law enforcement boxed in Parias while he was in a Toyota Camry, federal agents approached the car and ordered him to step out, Essayli’s office said. Parias drove the Camry forward and back and struck two of the law enforcement vehicles.

“Parias’s aggressive driving escalated to the point that large plumes of smoke formed around the Camry, apparently caused by the spinning of the car’s tires,” Essayli’s office said.

The immigrant “weaponized his vehicle and began ramming the law enforcement vehicle in an attempt to flee,” McLaughlin said.

Parias documents federal immigration operations on TikTok with the username Richard LA, local news station KCAL-TV, a CBS News affiliate, reported. Attorney Carlos Jurado said his client is a “pacifist.”

“It’s difficult to trust every word that comes from DHS,” Jurado told KCAL-TV. “What we know about Richard is that he’s a pacifist guy. He’s very calm. A lot of the police officers here know him. They know he’s very respectful. In fact, the city of Los Angeles has awarded him for the work that he does in the community.”