Remember me
The Portland police chief tearfully revealed that two people shot by US Customs and Border Protection agents - after allegedly trying to run them over - are connected to a dangerous Venezuelan gang.
Agents shot Luis David Nico Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras during a targeted stop on Thursday in Oregon after the driver allegedly 'weaponized his vehicle,' with authorities firing in 'self-defense.'
Both remain hospitalized in stable condition and are currently in federal custody.
The shooting happened just one day after an ICE officer, identified as Jonathan Ross, shot and killed 37-year-old mother-of-three Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.
On Friday, Portland Police Chief Bob Day broke down in tears as he confirmed that the two individuals were undocumented immigrants with ties to the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
However, he admitted hesitance in releasing the details, pointing out that law enforcement - including his agency - has long struggled with what he termed the 'historic injustice of victim blaming.'
'I want to speak for just a moment, specifically to my Latino community,' Day said during the news conference.
'It saddens me that we even have to qualify these remarks because I understand or at least have attempted to understand your voices, your concern, your fear, your anger,' he added.
Portland Police Chief Bob Day tearfully revealed that the two people shot by US Customs and Border Protection agents on Thursday were undocumented immigrants with ties to the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua
Agents shot Luis David Nico Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras during a targeted stop on after the driver allegedly 'weaponized his vehicle,' with authorities firing in 'self-defense.'
Both victims remain hospitalized in stable conditions and are currently in federal custody
He broke down mid-sentence, removing his glasses and wiping tears from his eyes as he choked up while speaking.
'This information, in no way, is meant to disparage or to condone or support or agree with any of the actions that occurred yesterday,' Day continued.
The chief made clear that revealing the gang ties was only for transparency and should not be used to excuse the shooting, which is still under investigation.
'But it is important that we stay committed to the rule of law, that we stay committed to the facts, that we stay a trustworthy and legitimate police department for all Portlanders,' he said.
'They are in custody of federal law enforcement but they appear to be on the road to recovery, and I'm grateful for that.'
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said that Border Patrol agents were conducting a targeted vehicle stop outside Adventist Health Portland on Southeast Main Street Thursday afternoon.
Law enforcement sources said the stop was part of a targeted Border Patrol mission called 'Operation Oregon.'
The department said the passenger - a Venezuelan national tied to the Tren de Aragua prostitution ring - was 'involved in a recent shooting in Portland.'
DHS said the passenger - a Venezuelan national tied to the Tren de Aragua prostitution ring - was 'involved in a recent shooting in Portland'
The chief made clear that revealing the gang ties was only for transparency and shouldn't be used to excuse the shooting, which is still under investigation
No agents were injured in the shooting, a federal law enforcement source told CNN
'When agents identified themselves to the vehicle occupants, the driver weaponized his vehicle and attempted to run over the law enforcement agents,' the DHS statement said.
'Fearing for his life and safety, an agent fired a defensive shot,' it added. 'The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene.'
No agents were injured in the shooting, a federal law enforcement source told CNN.
Sources said agents pulled over a red Toyota, but the driver tried to flee, striking an agent's vehicle. An agent then fired at the Toyota, striking a 33-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, according to KGW.
By 2.24pm, authorities learned that a man who had been shot was calling for help from an apartment near Northeast 146th Avenue and East Burnside, where officers were seen speaking to residents at the scene.
Responding officers discovered a man and woman with gunshot wounds at the scene, applied a tourniquet and called for emergency medical help.
In a dispatch recording shared online, an operator could be heard saying that a man had been shot twice in the arm and his wife had been shot once in the chest.
However, DHS dismissed claims that the two were a married couple and instead labeled the reports 'revolting lies,' according to Fox News.
DHS dismissed claims that the two individuals were a married couple and instead labeled the reports 'revolting lies'
Portland ICE Director Camilla Wamsley previously slammed Chief Day, claiming the facility has faced numerous nights of violence with little police presence while protests unfolded under city council guidance
Mayor Keith Wilson has since issued a statement calling on ICE to 'end all operations in Portland until a full investigation can be completed'
The department said their connection stemmed solely from the gang, with Moncada identified as a suspected associate and Zambrano-Contreras allegedly involved in the gang’s prostitution operation.
Mayor Keith Wilson has since issued a statement calling the shooting a 'deeply troubling incident.'
'We cannot sit by while constitutional protections erode and bloodshed mounts,' he declared. 'Portland is not a "training ground" for militarized agents and the "full force" threatened by the administration has deadly consequences.'
He said he’s calling on ICE to 'end all operations in Portland until a full investigation can be completed,' but warned residents to react with 'calm and purpose,' stressing that the city should not 'respond to violence with violence.'
At a news conference Thursday night, Wilson also called for the federal officials leading ICE and Border Patrol to 'be fully investigated.'
Meanwhile, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter also called on ICE to end its operations in Portland.
'ICE has done nothing but inject terror, chaos and cruelty into our communities,' she said in a statement. 'Trump's immigration machine is using violence to control our communities - straight out of the authoritarian playbook.'
Congresswoman Janelle Bynum agreed.
Friday's news conference comes as tensions remain high across the nation following the ICE-related shooting death of Minneapolis mother 37-year-old Renee Good
The agent identified as being responsible for her death, Jonathan 'Jon' Ross, has been branded a 'murderer' by furious Democrats
The Trump administration has stood by Ross, insisting he acted in self-defense when Good appeared to try to hit him with her vehicle
'This isn't law enforcement, it's state-sponsored terrorism,' she said in her own statement. 'Stop f***ing with us.
'This is the second shooting this week by agents following the orders of a wannabe dictator who is trying to take over cities and rule by instilling terror in the hears of American people,' Bynum said.
'When the president deployed his guardsmen to our city earlier this year, we told him their presence was unwelcome and unhelpful. Today, we saw just how dangerous this is - we need these goons gone.'
Portland ICE Director Camilla Wamsley has previously slammed Chief Day, claiming the facility has faced numerous nights of violence with little police presence while protests unfolded under city council guidance, according to Fox.
Day has said his officers will not take part in immigration enforcement citywide, though they do maintain public safety around demonstrations.
Friday's news conference comes as tensions remain high across the nation following the ICE-related shooting death of Minneapolis mother Renee Good.
The agent, Jonathan 'Jon' Ross, has been branded a 'murderer' by furious Democrats, yet the Trump administration has stood by him, insisting he acted in self-defense when Good appeared to try to hit him with her vehicle.
Ross is an 'experienced' officer who last year suffered gruesome injuries as he tried to arrest an illegal immigrant sex offender.
An FBI agent told the Daily Mail that he does not believe Ross was justified in his shooting of Good
The FBI agent said Ross is an 'experienced' officer who last year suffered gruesome injuries as he tried to arrest an illegal immigrant sex offender
'He's the same ICE agent who got dragged by car 50 feet back in June, so he has a history,' an FBI agent who spoke to the Daily Mail on condition of anonymity confirmed.
The FBI agent noted that he does not believe Ross was justified in his shooting of Good.
'Shot one, sort of can be argued, but shots two and three - they cannot be argued,' he said.