US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shot and killed a man named Silverio Villegas-Gonzales near Chicago after he allegedly drove his car at a group of agents on Friday. According to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, ICE was attempting to arrest Villegas-Gonzales when he resisted and drove towards the group, at which point an agent was dragged along with his vehicle.
The agent, who feared for his life, then drew his firearm and opened fire, fatally wounding the driver, who was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a hospital.
Authorities indicated that during the attempted arrest, Villegas-Gonzales struck an officer and fled the scene, with the ICE agent suffering "severe injuries" yet reported to be in stable condition. The Department of Homeland Security also shared that the deceased had a history of reckless driving and was an undocumented migrant.
Initial reactions from local officials included a statement from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker calling for transparency and a thorough investigation into the incident, emphasizing the need for clarity for the community affected.
The incident occurred in Franklin Park, a suburb of nearly 18,000 residents located near O'Hare Airport, characterized by a significant Hispanic population that constitutes around half its demographic. This area has seen heightened immigration enforcement activities recently, following directives from the federal government.
}
