An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent was struck by a vehicle and discharged his weapon during an attempted arrest in New Jersey on Monday, according to federal officials and local police.
Authorities said the suspect fled the scene in Stafford Township following the encounter, which occurred at around 9.30 a.m. on Route 72 near Mermaid Drive, police said. The officer was taken to hospital with injuries of unknown severity.
Friedrich Castillo-Ormeno, a Peruvian national, was identified by ICE as the suspect, an agency spokesperson said. He had been given a final order of removal by an immigration judge on January 30, 2026.
An ICE spokesperson told Newsweek that officers were conducting a targeted vehicle stop when the driver “weaponized his vehicle and struck an officer, resulting in the officer discharging his weapon.” The spokesperson said the driver fled the scene and “remains at-large.”
Police said officers responded to reports of gunfire and an injured officer, before providing first aid and transporting the agent to hospital. The department said it secured the scene while the Federal Bureau of Investigation took over the investigation.
The Stafford Township Police Department said that the agent discharged a firearm at the vehicle. It added that the suspect had not been located, and that it was unclear whether anyone inside the vehicle had been injured.
The department added that it was not involved in the ICE operation, and that it was involved in traffic management and securing the scene.
This is a developing story. More to follow.
Leave a Reply