Patterson, California — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents opened fire on an illegal immigrant during a targeted arrest after the suspect allegedly attempted to ram an officer with his vehicle, according to an official statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE Director Todd Lyons.
The incident occurred Tuesday morning (April 7, 2026) near the intersection of Sperry Avenue and Interstate 5 in the town of Patterson, in California’s Central Valley. ICE agents were conducting a targeted vehicle stop to apprehend Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, 36, whom ICE identified as an illegal immigrant and a documented member of the 18th Street Gang — a violent transnational criminal organization based in Los Angeles.
In a statement, ICE Director Todd Lyons said: “When officers approached the vehicle, the wanted criminal turned his car into a weapon and attempted to ram an officer. Following their training, the officers fired in self-defense to protect themselves, their colleagues, and the public.” No officers or members of the public were injured. The suspect was shot and transported to a hospital. His current condition has not been publicly detailed, though the family’s attorney stated he is stable.
ICE reports that Hernandez is wanted in El Salvador for questioning in connection with a murder. The 18th Street Gang, which ICE alleges he belongs to, has more than 100,000 members worldwide and is notorious for serious violent crimes.
However, attorney Patrick Kolasinski, who represents Hernandez and his family, strongly denied the allegations. At a press conference on April 8, Kolasinski stated: “Mr. Hernandez is not and has never been a member of any gang. He is a loving father who was on his way to work when he was stopped.” The lawyer suggested it may have been a case of mistaken identity and said dashcam footage shows Hernandez attempting to swerve and avoid the officers rather than intentionally ramming them. He also noted that Hernandez was acquitted in a related case in El Salvador in 2019 and that no active warrant was in effect at the time of the stop.
Hernandez’s family described him as “a 36-year-old father” and said they are demanding answers from authorities. They added that they have not yet been allowed to visit him in the hospital.
Dashcam video from the scene, aired by local stations such as KCRA and KTVU, shows officers surrounding the vehicle. The car reverses, makes light contact with a patrol vehicle, then attempts to drive through the highway median — at which point agents opened fire.
The incident is under investigation by ICE, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, and other federal agencies. It is one of several high-profile encounters tied to the current administration’s intensified immigration enforcement operations.