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Federal agent fires gun during immigration operation in Willowbrook
A resident confronts a federal agent near a crashed car as they investigate the scene of a reported shooting during an operation by federal immigration officers in Willowbrook.
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Patrick T. Fallon
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Getty Images
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Topline:
A federal agent fired his gun during an immigration enforcement operation in Willowbrook Wednesday morning, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Federal officials said one Border Patrol officer was hurt, though the nature and severity of the injury is unclear.
How we got here: The operation happened at 7:05 a.m. in Compton, according to DHS in a statement on X. Officials said they arrested William Eduardo Moran Carballo, who the DHS said was not injured in the shooting. Officials allege Carballo used his vehicle and rammed law enforcement. They said an agent fired shots after "fearing for his life and safety."
In a statement to LAist, the DHS said, "This situation is evolving, and more information is forthcoming.” LAist has not been able to independently verify the details of the incident.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said, regardless of whether the arrest was warranted, the community is mistrustful of immigration actions.
"The fact that the residents in Willowbrook were concerned about it shows that when you create an atmosphere of mistrust that even if it might have been a legitimate arrest, the neighborhoods don't trust this situation because of what was going on in Minneapolis or what's been going on here since last June, and it hasn't stopped," Bass said.
L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, and Border Patrol did not immediately respond to LAist’s request for comment.
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What we know: The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department responded to the shooting around 7:25 a.m. at the 2400 block of 126th Street in unincorporated Willowbrook, according to the department.
The context: Violent and deadly incidents involving federal agents conducting immigration sweeps across the U.S. have sparked intense backlash in local communities. There have been at least 17 shootings involving immigration agents since President Donald Trump launched his immigration crackdown, according to the nonprofit newsroom The Trace.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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