At a Glance
- The FBI says no body-camera, surveillance, or bystander video exists of a Border Patrol agent wounding two people in Portland, Oregon, last Thursday.
- Driver Luis David Nino-Moncada admitted ramming an unoccupied rental car to flee, according to an FBI affidavit filed Monday.
- Passenger Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras remains hospitalized with a chest wound and faces an illegal-entry charge filed in Texas.
- Why it matters: The absence of footage intensifies scrutiny of federal immigration tactics after two high-profile shootings in three days.
A federal court affidavit released Monday confirms the FBI has located no video-body-worn, surveillance, or civilian-of the moment a Border Patrol agent shot and wounded two Venezuelan nationals during an immigration stop in a Portland medical-office parking lot.
The Thursday incident occurred one day after an ICE agent fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis, triggering nationwide protests over the use of force during immigration operations.
What Agents Say Happened
Agents told investigators the shooting began after the driver of a pickup truck shifted into reverse and “repeatedly slammed” into an empty rental car the agents had parked nearby. The collision, they said, smashed headlights and tore off the front bumper, prompting fears for their safety and that of bystanders.
Six agents were present; none activated body cameras. The truck sped away after the shots were fired.
Victims Identified
- Driver: Luis David Nino-Moncada, 29, entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, according to the Department of Homeland Security. He was treated for gunshot wounds to the arm and abdomen and appeared in federal court Monday afternoon wearing a white sweatsuit, holding his left arm at an awkward angle. A judge ordered detention and set a preliminary hearing for Wednesday.
- Passenger: Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, 32, entered illegally in 2023. She was shot in the chest, hospitalized, then transferred to a private immigration facility in Tacoma, Washington. Federal prosecutors in Texas have charged her with illegal entry.
Driver’s Alleged Admission
FBI Special Agent Daniel Jeffreys wrote that after being read his rights, Nino-Moncada “admitted to intentionally ramming the Border Patrol vehicle in an attempt to flee, and he stated that he knew they were immigration enforcement vehicles.”
The affidavit supports aggravated-assault and property-damage charges against Nino-Moncada.
Gang Allegations
DHS labels both individuals as Tren de Aragua associates. Portland Police Chief Bob Day said the pair surfaced during a July gang-shooting investigation, though neither was named a suspect. Court records show Zambrano-Contreras was previously arrested for prostitution; Nino-Moncada was present during the related search warrant.
Political Reaction
Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a statement Monday: “Anyone who crosses the red line of assaulting law enforcement will be met with the full force of this Justice Department. This man – an illegal alien with ties to a foreign terrorist organization – should NEVER have been in our country to begin with, and we will ensure he NEVER walks free in America again.”
Defense Pushback
Oregon Federal Public Defender Fidel Cassino-DuCloux, whose office represents Nino-Moncada, countered last week that the government is using a “well-worn playbook … to justify the dangerous and unprofessional conduct of its agents.”
Investigation Status
The FBI has interviewed four of the six agents on scene; the shooter has not been publicly identified. Investigators continue to canvass for additional witnesses or video.
Key Takeaways
- No footage exists of the Portland shooting, leaving agents’ statements as the primary evidence.
- The driver faces federal charges; the passenger faces an immigration violation.
- The back-to-back shootings in Minneapolis and Portland have amplified calls for transparency in federal immigration enforcement.
