An unfortunate shooting incident occurred near Chicago on Friday, where an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agent shot a driver after he allegedly aimed his vehicle at a group of agents.
According to a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security, the agents were attempting to make an arrest when the driver resisted and accelerated towards them. During the chaotic moment, one agent was reportedly dragged alongside the vehicle.
Fearing for his life, the agent drew his firearm and fired at the approaching vehicle.
Sadly, the driver, identified as Silverio Villegas-Gonzales, was declared dead shortly after being rushed to the hospital.
The official statement noted, “During a vehicle stop, the suspect resisted and attempted to drive his vehicle into the arrest team, striking an officer and subsequently dragging him as he fled the scene.”
The injured ICE agent sustained serious injuries but is currently reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities also shared that Villegas-Gonzales had a prior record of reckless driving and was an undocumented migrant who entered the country at an unclear time.
Local police in Franklin Park clarified that they had no involvement in this specific incident.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed concerns over transparency on social media, stating, “This is a developing situation and the people of Illinois deserve a full, factual accounting of what’s happened today to ensure transparency and accountability.”
Franklin Park, which has a population of approximately 18,000 and is situated near O’Hare Airport to the northwest of Chicago, has a sizable Hispanic community, numbering around half of its residents.
This incident comes amidst heightened immigration enforcement activities in the Chicago region, prompted by recent executive orders from the Trump administration.
