An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot a man during an attempted vehicle stop Friday morning in the Chicago suburb of Franklin Park, the Department of Homeland Security said.
DHS said one of the ICE officers was struck by the car and dragged "a significant distance" and is in stable condition after suffering multiple injuries. The agency identified the deceased as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez and said the officer fired after the driver resisted and attempted to flee, striking an officer and dragging him as the arrest team tried to stop the vehicle.
The shooting took place in Franklin Park, about 20 miles west of downtown Chicago, according to CBS News immigration reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez. DHS said the man had a history of reckless driving and that officers discharged a firearm because the officer feared for his life.
The incident occurred less than a week into increased ICE operations in the Chicago area that the agency has termed "Operation Midway Blitz." In a statement, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, "We are praying for the speedy recovery of our law enforcement officer. He followed his training, used appropriate force, and properly enforced the law to protect the public and law enforcement." The department also said that viral social media videos and activists encouraging people to resist law enforcement "not only spread misinformation, but also undermine public safety, as well as the safety of our officers and those being apprehended."
DHS provided the account of the traffic stop and shooting in its statement; local and federal authorities have not released additional operational details, and no criminal charges or agency disciplinary findings have been announced. The shooting adds to mounting tensions in cities where ICE has increased enforcement activity, prompting demonstrations and public debate over the agency's local operations.
Further information, including any review of the shooting by internal or external investigators and statements from local law enforcement, was not immediately available. DHS said the officer involved is receiving medical care and that the agency is reviewing the incident.