Carlos Iván Mendoza Hernández, a 36-year-old Salvadoran national, was shot multiple times by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a traffic stop in Northern California on Tuesday. His attorney, Patrick Kolasinski, says Hernández was recovering from at least three surgeries after being struck more than half a dozen times, including in the face and arm.
Hernández’s attorney disputes ICE’s official account of the incident. ICE Director Todd Lyons stated that Hernández “weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run an officer over,” prompting agents to fire in self-defense. However, Kolasinski claims Hernández was shot first and only attempted to flee afterward. “He was trying to get away because he’d already been shot at, and he was just scared that he was going to die,” Kolasinski said.
The attorney also disputed ICE’s claim that Hernández is an 18th Street Gang member wanted in El Salvador for questioning in connection to a murder. Kolasinski presented a document from the Salvadoran government indicating Hernández was acquitted of murder charges and released without holds. “He cannot have a warrant,” Kolasinski argued, suggesting ICE may have acted on erroneous information.
The FBI is investigating the shooting. ICE has not responded to Kolasinski’s allegations. The incident occurred amid heightened scrutiny of ICE enforcement actions under the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation policies.