Federal agent opens fire during immigration operation in Willowbrook; man taken into custody

Federal Agent Fires Shots During Immigration Arrest in Willowbrook, Sparking Crowd and Protests

WILLOWBROOK, Calif. — A federal immigration operation turned chaotic Wednesday morning after an agent fired shots during an attempted arrest in a residential parking lot, triggering a heavy law-enforcement response and drawing crowds of residents and activists to the scene.

The incident happened shortly after 7 a.m. near the intersection of 126th Street and Mona Boulevard, where U.S. Border Patrol agents were conducting a targeted operation. No one was struck by gunfire, but the scene quickly escalated as multiple agencies responded and residents gathered nearby.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, agents were attempting to arrest William Eduardo Moran Carballo, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador wanted for involvement in a human smuggling operation and with two prior arrests for domestic violence. An immigration judge ordered his removal from the U.S. in 2019.

DHS said Carballo tried to flee as agents moved in, using his vehicle to ram a law-enforcement car. One agent fired defensive shots, missing Carballo. He then crashed his white sedan nearby, shattering the windshield and deploying the airbags, before attempting to run. Agents apprehended him at the scene.

Carballo was not injured by gunfire, but a Customs and Border Protection officer suffered an unspecified injury.

Video captured by neighbors shows Carballo leaving the apartment complex, driving away, and moments later colliding with another vehicle. Witnesses said no ambulance or fire crews arrived immediately after the shooting and crash.

Another video shows a second person being detained by agents and placed into an unmarked SUV. Authorities have not said who that person was or how they were connected to the operation.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies, California Highway Patrol officers, and multiple federal agents in tactical gear responded to secure the area. The FBI confirmed it was not involved in the operation but sent an evidence response team to the scene.

As news spread, dozens of residents, activists, and livestreamers gathered nearby, some waving Mexican flags and confronting officers. Protesters accused federal agents of disrupting the neighborhood and targeting residents unfairly.

“People are afraid to go to work. Kids are scared. This is chaos,” said neighbor Andre Smith. “If this is border patrol, they should be at the border.”

Local livestreamers said they were documenting the scene to protect residents who might be afraid to speak up.

Despite several tense moments, no protesters were arrested and no crowd-control weapons were deployed.

“This situation is evolving, and more information is forthcoming,” DHS said in a statement.

ORIGINAL SOURCE