Feds Open Fire on Vehicle in Calif. Standoff, DHS Confirms

A Confrontation That Escalated Into a Standoff

A tense encounter between federal immigration agents and a local family in San Bernardino took a dramatic turn on a Saturday morning, leading to gunfire and a seven-hour standoff. The incident concluded without any arrests, as reported by both community advocates and local law enforcement.

The situation began around 8:40 a.m. on August 16 when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers stopped a man in the area. According to the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, the agents did not present a warrant and fired three shots at the man’s vehicle. Afterward, the man returned home with his family and called 911.

San Bernardino police confirmed that they were dispatched at 8:51 a.m. following reports of gunfire. When officers arrived, they encountered federal agents who informed them that an officer-involved shooting had occurred and that the suspect had fled. Shortly after, the man contacted police dispatchers, claiming that “masked men” had broken his car window and fired at him. He stated he did not know the agents’ identities and requested assistance.

Officers later located the man on Mountain View Drive but chose not to intervene further, citing the California Values Act. This law prohibits local law enforcement from assisting with immigration enforcement activities.

By approximately 11 a.m., Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the family's residence. Advocates reported that the family remained inside while multiple police and federal vehicles surrounded the home. The family expressed fear after their car was struck by gunfire. The Inland Coalition alleged that the man had no criminal record and was targeted without legal justification.

Around 1:12 p.m., San Bernardino police were asked to return to the scene after a crowd began gathering. At this point, federal agents told officers that the man was wanted for allegedly assaulting a federal officer. This charge involves forcibly resisting or impeding federal officers. Police provided only “crowd control support” as federal agents attempted to make the arrest.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated that two Customs and Border Protection officers were injured during the encounter when the suspect refused to exit his vehicle and drove toward the officers. “Because of the subject forcing a CBP officer to discharge his firearm in self-defense, the subject escaped the scene,” the spokesperson said. “After the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department located the subject at a residence and briefly had him in custody, he was set free. This decision was made despite the subject refusing to comply and wounding two officers — another example of California’s pro-sanctuary policies in action.”

Federal agents eventually left the scene around 3:45 p.m. without detaining the man, ending the standoff.

Federal investigators are now reviewing the circumstances surrounding the officer-involved shooting, according to local police. The Inland Coalition has also announced its efforts to provide the family with legal support.

This incident highlights the complex interactions between federal immigration enforcement and local law enforcement, as well as the broader implications of sanctuary policies and individual rights during such encounters.