ICE Agent Shoots Deputy Marshal and TikTok Streamer During South L.A. Raid Gone Wrong

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in South Los Angeles devolved into a shooting when an agent shot and wounded a deputy U.S. marshal and a TikTok streamer during an attempted arrest, federal officials said.

The incident took place on Tuesday at around 9 a.m. as ICE and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents conducted what officials described as a "targeted enforcement traffic stop" on 44-year-old undocumented immigrant Carlitos Ricardo Parias, who authorities say had previously evaded arrest.

Federal officials said an ICE agent opened fire after Parias spun the tires of his Toyota Camry, causing it to fishtail and throw smoke and debris into the air, as The Los Angeles Times reports. A bullet struck Parias, while another ricocheted and hit a deputy marshal in the hand. Both were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, Parias "rammed his car into agents' vehicles after they boxed him in and ordered him to submit to arrest." In a statement posted on X, Essayli said Parias "refused to comply with agents' orders and escalated what could have been a simple arrest into a life-threatening situation."

Parias, who has been charged with assault on a federal officer, faces up to eight years in prison if convicted. He is expected to make his initial court appearance Wednesday at the Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles. "Vehicles are deadly weapons," Essayli added in his post. "Anyone who uses them against federal agents risks arrest, imprisonment, and life-threatening injuries."

Witnesses identified Parias as "Richard LA," a TikTok creator known for livestreaming immigration enforcement operations to an audience of more than 130,000 followers. His attorney, Carlos Jurado, described him to The LA Times as "a very pacifist man" with no criminal record. "This is a man who works hard, has two U.S.-born kids, and has never been in trouble," Jurado said.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said agents "followed their training and fired defensive shots" after determining there was a threat to public safety.

The shooting has reignited debate over ICE's use of force, especially during vehicle encounters. Local police departments such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco typically advise officers not to shoot at moving vehicles unless another weapon is involved, citing risks to bystanders and fellow officers.

The FBI, the Office of Inspector General, and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the incident.