UPDATE: An Ontario man, Carlos Jimenez, has been charged with assault against federal officers following a shocking incident where he was shot during a confrontation on Thursday, October 30, 2023. New court documents reveal that Jimenez reversed his SUV towards Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers just before he was shot.
According to a sworn statement filed in federal court in Riverside, Jimenez initially engaged in a heated argument with officers as they conducted a planned immigration enforcement operation. The altercation escalated when Jimenez abruptly reversed his Lexus RX350 towards the officers, who were already engaged with another vehicle, a Honda Accord, on Vineyard Avenue.
The incident unfolded as an enforcement team, consisting of an ICE officer, a Deportation officer, and two U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, stopped the Honda. While an officer was addressing the occupants of that vehicle, Jimenez approached and began arguing. The situation intensified when another officer, fearing for his safety, drew his weapon. After Jimenez initially pulled away, he quickly shifted gears and accelerated back toward the officers, prompting one to fire a shot that struck him in the shoulder.
Following the incident, Jimenez drove away but later checked himself into a nearby hospital for treatment. He was released and subsequently taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Family members indicated that he managed to return home before seeking medical attention.
As news of the shooting spread, protests erupted outside the George E. Brown Jr. federal building during Jimenez’s initial court appearance on Friday evening. Demonstrators rallied against ICE and the federal government’s deportation policies, holding signs such as “Melt ICE Dump Trump” and banners demanding, “ICE out of the Inland Empire.” Protester Ana Wilson, 34, voiced her concerns, stating, “They are breaking the law in the name of law enforcement.”
The ongoing situation raises critical questions about the enforcement of immigration policies and the use of force by federal officers. The outcome of the immigration enforcement operation that initially involved the Honda Accord remains unclear, adding a layer of complexity to an already tense incident.
Authorities confirm that this case is still developing, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
