Federal agents shoot woman they say ‘boxed in’ authorities on Chicago’s Southwest Side

U.S. Border Patrol shot a woman Saturday on the Southwest Side, marking the second shooting involving federal agents in Chicago since President Donald Trump’s administration launched an aggressive immigration enforcement operation in the area last month.

Following the late-morning incident in Brighton Park, an angry crowd gathered. About 100 protesters were met with pepper balls and tear gas deployed by federal agents in skirmishes that lasted until late afternoon.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said the shooting erupted after patrolling agents were “rammed by 10 cars” and “boxed in.” Agents then fired “defensive shots” when they discovered the woman “was armed with a semi-automatic weapon” while driving one of the cars, McLaughlin said.

The Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ have not independently verified the feds’ account. The exact time and location of the shooting weren’t immediately known.

McLaughlin said “no law enforcement officers were seriously injured,” and the wounded woman “drove herself to the hospital to get care for wounds.” But Larry Merritt, a Chicago Fire Department spokesman, said she was found near 39th Street and Kedzie Avenue and taken in fair condition to Mount Sinai Hospital.

Chicago police records shared with the Sun-Times show that a Border Patrol agent had called for assistance, reporting that roughly 30 agents had been “surrounded by a large crowd of people.” But police officials weren’t sent to help, the records show.

A police spokesperson said officers ultimately responded to a call of a person shot in the 3900 block of South Kedzie Avenue “to document the incident” and “maintain safety and traffic control for all living and working in the area.”

“We’re here so that you can protest,” Chicago Police Deputy Chief Gabriella Shemash told protesters.

But the Chicago Police Department “is not involved in the incident or its investigation. Federal authorities are investigating this shooting,” the spokesperson said.

Ald. Julia Ramirez, whose 12th Ward includes Brighton Park, said there has been “pure escalation” from federal agents on Saturday. She said community members feel that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are antagonizing protesters.

“It doesn’t seem like things are calming down,” Ramirez said. “We’ve seen immense anger from neighbors feeling like federal agents are provoking and wanting to incite violence on people who just care about keeping people safe.”

Ramirez said a man who was driving one of the vehicles involved in the accident was detained. She said he is a U.S. citizen, but could not confirm his name or age.

“Ultimately, this community stands with all of our neighbors,” Ramirez said. “Especially our immigrant neighbors.”

Following the shooting, at about noon, protesters began gathering. They lined both sides of Kedzie Avenue and chanted, “ICE go home.” Some protesters threw water bottles. When agents used tear gas and pepper balls, the protesters briefly dispersed and then returned. Several protesters were seen being detained by agents, including one person being taken down to the ground by at least three officers.

Chicago Police officers who arrived were greeted with shouts from protesters complaining that the police were not protecting them. Protesters remained until federal agents left around 4 p.m.

Trayvon Howse, 20, came out to protest near Kedzie Avenue and Pershing Road.

“We’re Americans. Why can’t we live in peace?” Howse said. “Last time I checked, we had freedom of speech, that was one of our amendments, right?”

Elizabeth Ruiz said agents had also rammed a vehicle into her son’s truck earlier and taken him into custody. Her 21-year-old son, who she said is a U.S. citizen, was being held inside an ICE vehicle nearby.

“Why would they take him? He was just at the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Ruiz, 51, of Gage Park. “My son has nothing to do with that. They need to let him go.”

In response to the ramped-up immigration campaign in the Chicago area and the corresponding protests, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros reaffirmed his office’s commitment to protecting federal agents and property.

“Assistant U.S. Attorneys will staff the FBI-led command post on a daily basis to monitor real-time developments and take swift action as needed when criminal offenders assault, obstruct, or impede law enforcement personnel or destroy federal property,” Boutros said in a statement Saturday.

Federal leaders including Douglas DePodesta, who heads the Chicago field office of the FBI, and Matthew Scarpino, who’s in charge of ICE’s homeland security investigations in the area also said there is “no place for violence against law enforcement officers, obstruction of justice, or destruction of federal property.”

Since the Trump administration’s “Operation Midway Blitz” came to Chicago last month, several protesters have been arrested by federal agents at an ICE processing facility in suburban Broadview, which has become a de facto detention center without the rules and oversight.

A Brighton Park resident said Saturday he looked out the window of his home, which is near where the shooting took place, after hearing roughly four gunshots and saw federal agents. “It’s scary and it’s wrong,” said Matthew, 34, who did not want to share his last name out of fear for his safety.

Reina Diaz has lived in Brighton Park for 36 years. The native of Mexico was within a few feet of ICE agents, who were standing guard while protesters shouted at them.

“It hurts, it hurts because we are all here fighting for ourselves. It’s a shame that the president is harming the economy of this country.”

Maritza Vega lives around a half a block away from where federal agents threw tear gas canisters into a crowd of protesters.

“They were spraying it halfway down the block. It came down here. We had to run [inside] at one point,” Vega said. “It’s a disgrace. It’s a disgrace because they shouldn’t be treating people like that at all, the way they were standing out there with those big old guns [when] nobody was touching them.”

The shooting comes weeks after federal immigration agents fatally shot a 38-year-old Mexican immigrant during a traffic stop in northwest suburban Franklin Park, officials said.

Silverio Villegas González was killed Sept. 12 when he allegedly resisted arrest and attempted to drive his car into ICE officers, dragging one officer who then opened fire, DHS has said. Villegas González was pronounced dead at a hospital.

DHS reported that the officer who opened fire had been “seriously injured” during the encounter. But body-worn camera footage first obtained by the Sun-Times shows that he described his injuries as “nothing major” shortly after the shooting.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.