ICE Agents Shoot Alleged Gang Member During California Traffic Stop

Suspect accused of trying to run over agent during stop on Interstate 5

Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:30pm

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents opened fire during a traffic stop on a California highway, shooting a man they allege is an undocumented immigrant and member of the 18th Street Gang wanted for questioning in a murder case in El Salvador. The suspect, identified as Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, was hospitalized, but officials did not release details on his condition. No local officers were involved in the incident, which occurred near Interstate 5 in Patterson, about 90 miles south of Sacramento.

Why it matters

The shooting adds to a growing list of confrontations between federal immigration authorities and the public during the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration. Past incidents have raised questions about official narratives, with witnesses and evidence sometimes contradicting DHS accounts of agents using force, including in cases where vehicles were described as 'weaponized'.

The details

ICE officials say their agents opened fire after the driver they were targeting allegedly tried to run an officer down. The FBI is investigating the shooting, and the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office said roads in the area would remain closed for the rest of the day. Federal officials say attacks on their agents involving vehicles have climbed, citing more than 180 such incidents since President Trump's second term began.

  • The traffic stop occurred on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez

An undocumented immigrant and alleged member of the 18th Street Gang who was wanted in El Salvador for questioning in a murder case.

Todd Lyons

The Acting ICE Director who said agents fired 'defensive shots to protect themselves, their fellow agents, and the public' after the vehicle was allegedly used as a weapon.

Gavin Newsom

The Governor of California whose office said it expects federal authorities to work 'appropriately' with state and local agencies as the shooting is investigated.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The FBI is leading the investigation into the shooting, and the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office said roads in the area would remain closed for the rest of the day.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and confrontations between federal immigration authorities and the public during the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration, with questions raised about official narratives in past use-of-force cases.