A federal agent was involved in a shooting in the Los Angeles County community of Willowbrook on Wednesday, Jan. 21, according to reports fromKABC,NBC Los Angeles, and a statement from the Department of Homeland Security.
KABC reported that a spokesperson with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department "said the U.S. Border Patrol or Department of Homeland Security was involved in the shooting."
NBC Los Angeles reportedthat a federal agent was involved in a shooting during an immigration enforcement operation, citing the DHS. The outlet said the incident happened after federal agents were conducting an operation that led to a vehicle pursuit that ended in a crash. As the suspect of the operation was being detained, shots were fired.
When asked about the shooting in Willowbrook, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department told the USA TODAY Network that they could not share why they were called down to assist with traffic control along 126th Street at around 7:25 a.m. Wednesday. They could not confirm whether there was a shooting, and they referred the USA TODAY Network to the Department of Homeland Security for more information.
A DHS spokesperson told the USA TODAY Network that DHS officers were conducting "a targeted operation" in Compton near Willowbrook just after 7 a.m. to arrest William Eduardo Moran Carballo, an undocumented human smuggling suspect with prior arrests and a 2019 deportation order on his record.
DHS said that as officers attempted to arrest Carballo, he "weaponized his vehicle and rammed law enforcement."
"Fearing for his life and safety, an agent fired defensive shots," the DHS said.
Carballo was not hit by the gunfire and was arrested by law enforcement, according to DHS. A CBP officer was injured at the scene, DHS said, although the extent of the officer's injuries remains unknown.
DHS said "this situation is evolving, and more information is forthcoming."
The incident comes amid thefatal shooting of Renee Nicole Goodby an ICE agent in Minneapolis earlier January.
Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her atpbarraza@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Federal agent involved in shooting in Willowbrook, CA
