US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shot and killed a man near Chicago on Friday after he allegedly drove his car at a group of agents.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated that ICE was attempting to arrest the suspect, Silverio Villegas-Gonzales, who resisted arrest and steered his vehicle towards the group, dragging one agent along in the process.
The agent, fearing for his life, drew his firearm and fired at Villegas-Gonzales, who succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital.
In a statement, officials revealed, 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 agent was reported to have sustained severe injuries, but is currently in stable condition.
The Department of Homeland Security disclosed that Villegas-Gonzales was an undocumented immigrant with a prior history of reckless driving, having entered the country at an unknown time.
The local police department in Franklin Park confirmed they were not involved in the incident, while Illinois Governor JB Pritzker emphasized the importance of transparency, requesting a full and factual account of the events that transpired.
Franklin Park, a suburb with approximately 18,000 residents situated near O'Hare Airport, has a significant Hispanic population. This incident occurs amid heightened immigration enforcement measures initiated by the Trump administration in the Chicago area.
