At a Glance
- A federal agent fired shots at a wanted man during an immigration enforcement operation in Willowbrook at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday
- The suspect, William Eduardo Moran Carballo, was wanted for human smuggling and two prior domestic-violence arrests
- No one was struck by gunfire; a Customs and Border Protection officer sustained an injury
- Why it matters: The incident highlights violent resistance to immigration arrests as ICE operations surge across Southern California
A federal agent opened fire Wednesday morning in Willowbrook during an immigration enforcement operation that ended with one person in custody, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The shooting occurred around 7:30 a.m. in the 2400 block of 126th Street. No one was hit, but a Customs and Border Protection officer was injured. Details of that injury were not released.
The Operation
Federal agents had been conducting an early-morning targeted operation in nearby Compton to arrest William Eduardo Moran Carballo, described by DHS as a “violent criminal illegal alien from El Salvador.”
According to the agency, Carballo rammed his vehicle into law-enforcement vehicles while trying to escape.
“In a dangerous attempt to evade arrest, this criminal illegal alien weaponized his vehicle and rammed law enforcement,” a DHS spokesperson told News Of Los Angeles. “Fearing for his life and safety, an agent fired defensive shots. The criminal illegal alien was not hit and attempted to flee on foot. He was successfully apprehended.”
Pursuit and Crash
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said a brief pursuit ended in a crash. NewsChopper4 footage showed a BMW with front-end damage and deployed air bags. Shots were fired as officers tried to detain Carballo.
Carballo was eventually caught and taken into custody. He was not injured, while the injured CBP officer was treated at the scene.
Criminal History
DHS said Carballo has two prior arrests for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant and is linked to a human-smuggling operation. An immigration judge ordered his removal from the United States in 2019.
News Of Los Angeles is working to obtain additional details on his criminal record.
Escalating Violence
The DHS spokesperson blamed sanctuary policies for a spike in violent resistance during immigration arrests.
“These dangerous attempts to evade arrest have surged since sanctuary politicians, including Governor Newsom, have encouraged illegal aliens to evade arrest and provided guides advising illegal aliens how to recognize ICE, block entry, and defy arrest,” the spokesperson said. “Our officers are now facing a 3,200% increase in vehicle attacks.”
The agency added that more information will be released as the situation develops.
Broader Enforcement Surge
Federal agents have been active across Los Angeles for months as part of President Trump’s mass-deportation campaign. Border crossings have dropped, while ICE arrests have doubled in the past year.
According to data obtained by News Of Los Angeles News, 25.7% of the 68,990 migrants in ICE detention through January 8 have criminal convictions; 48.4% are listed as “other immigration violator;” 25.9% have pending criminal charges; and 9.3% were fast-tracked for deportation.
Key Takeaways
- A single gunshot incident in Willowbrook marked the latest clash between federal agents and a wanted fugitive
- The targeted man had a 2019 deportation order and alleged ties to human smuggling
- DHS claims sanctuary-city policies have led to a dramatic rise in vehicle attacks on officers
- ICE operations in the region have intensified, with arrests doubling over the past year
