DHS officers open fire as man attempts to intervene during traffic stop in Ontario

Second ICE shooting breaks out just days apart

An ICE agent opened fire in Ontario, marking the second incident taking place in Southern California just days apart.

ONTARIO, Calif. - An investigation is underway in Ontario where shots were fired during an operation conducted by the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday.

What we know:

The incident happened just after 6:30 a.m. in the 2800 block of South Vineyard Avenue as ICE officers were attempting to conduct a traffic stop. 

According to Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, Carlos Jimenez, who was not the target, pulled up in a vehicle in front of the officers. Officers ordered Jimenez to leave the scene, but as he began to drive away, he suddenly stopped and attempted to run officers over by reversing directly at them without stopping, McLaughlin said in a statement. An ICE officer then fired defensive shots at the vehicle. Jimenez fled the scene and abandoned his vehicle, McLaughlin added. Officials said he sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound "when the officer was forced to defend himself from the suspect's vehicle."

Jimenez, a U.S. citizen, was taken to the hospital for treatment and subsequently arrested by HSI and booked into the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. Officials said he is being held pending charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding. 

Family spokesperson, Javier Hernandez, with the Inland Coalition of Immigrant Justice, said Jimenez stopped his Lexus when he saw federal agents stopping a dark-colored Honda on Vineyard Avenue.

"We do know he was released from the hospital but the family doesn't know where he is at, they believe he is in custody of the federal government," Hernandez said on Thursday. "He was someone being basically surrounded by armed men with masks so he decided to see what was going on."

The man in the vehicle that was originally stopped during the traffic stop was not injured in the shooting. He was taken into custody by agents. It's unclear why he was stopped. 

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The DHS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating. 

What they're saying:

A statement from Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin read, 

"This is another example of the threats our ICE officers are facing day-in and day-out as they risk their lives to enforce the law and arrest criminals. ICE officers now face a 1000% increase in assaults them including cars being used as weapons and death threats against our agents are up 8000%. This violence must end. Let me be clear: Anyone who assaults, impedes, obstructs, or threatens the lives of federal officers will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."