Attorney Claims ICE Shooting Victim Has No Gang Ties

Lawyer says client was acquitted of murder in El Salvador and has no U.S. criminal record.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:09am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of a small, metallic object against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing physical evidence from the ICE shooting and the need for a thorough investigation.A stark, close-up view of physical evidence from the ICE shooting raises questions about the agency's tactics and the transparency of its operations.Patterson Today

The attorney of a man shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Patterson, California, is claiming the agency attempted to arrest his client based on false information. The lawyer says he has obtained a document from the Salvadoran government showing his client, Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, was acquitted of a murder charge in 2019. The attorney also says Mendoza Hernandez has no criminal record in the U.S. except for a traffic ticket.

Why it matters

This case raises questions about the accuracy of information ICE uses to target individuals for arrest, as well as the transparency and accountability around ICE operations that result in the use of force against civilians.

The details

According to ICE Director Todd Lyons, federal officers were attempting to arrest Mendoza Hernandez, whom they claimed was an 18th Street gang member, when he 'weaponized his vehicle' and attempted to run over an officer. However, Mendoza Hernandez's attorney, Patrick Kolasinski, says he has obtained a document from the Salvadoran government showing his client was acquitted of a murder charge in 2019. Kolasinski also says Mendoza Hernandez's family in El Salvador claims he was never in a gang, and that he has no criminal record in the U.S. except for a traffic ticket.

  • The shooting occurred on Tuesday near the I-5 in Patterson, California.
  • Mendoza Hernandez was taken to a local hospital following the shooting, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The players

Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez

The man who was shot by ICE officers in Patterson, California. His attorney claims he was acquitted of a murder charge in El Salvador in 2019 and has no criminal record in the U.S. except for a traffic ticket.

Patrick Kolasinski

The attorney representing Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez. He claims to have obtained a document from the Salvadoran government proving his client's innocence.

Todd Lyons

The Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who claimed the officers were attempting to arrest Mendoza Hernandez, whom they believed to be an 18th Street gang member.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I have obtained a document from the government of El Salvador that I claim proves Mendoza Hernandez was once arrested and accused of murder but was acquitted.”

— Patrick Kolasinski, Attorney

“Mendoza Hernandez's family in El Salvador says he was never in a gang. The attorney also said his client has no criminal record in the United States except for a traffic ticket.”

— Patrick Kolasinski, Attorney

What’s next

Authorities have not allowed Mendoza Hernandez's attorney or fiancée to speak with him since the shooting. The attorney says he is still trying to gain access to his client and obtain more information about his condition and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability around ICE operations, particularly when they involve the use of force against civilians. The discrepancies between ICE's claims and the attorney's assertions raise concerns about the accuracy of the information used to target individuals for arrest.