Federal authorities have taken into custody a man who sustained multiple gunshot wounds when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers opened fire during a traffic stop in central California last week, according to his legal representative.
Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez was taken into FBI custody Monday following his release from medical care, lawyer Patrick Kolasinski confirmed. Federal officials have not disclosed what criminal charges the 36-year-old may be facing, and attempts to reach the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office for additional details have gone unanswered.
Kolasinski revealed that Mendoza, who required three surgical procedures to treat his gunshot injuries, was released directly to federal custody without any advance notice given to his family or legal representatives.
“We’re in shock,” Kolasinski told The Associated Press. “He should not be out of that hospital. He was in no condition to be released.”
The Department of Homeland Security maintains that ICE officers discharged their weapons in self-defense when Mendoza attempted to strike them with his vehicle following a traffic stop last Tuesday. Authorities stated they were conducting a targeted enforcement operation against Mendoza in Patterson, located approximately 75 miles southeast of San Francisco. They characterized him as an alleged gang associate sought by El Salvador for questioning regarding a homicide case.
During a press conference last week, Kolasinski reported that Mendoza was experiencing speech difficulties due to a gunshot wound to his jaw, but maintained his innocence regarding any gang affiliation. The attorney stated his client has only been cited for minor traffic violations, maintains a clean criminal record in the United States, and is not wanted on any arrest warrant in El Salvador, where he was cleared of murder charges.
Federal agencies have not provided an explanation for why Mendoza became the focus of their enforcement efforts. The Department of Homeland Security has remained silent regarding Kolasinski’s assertions.
Last Tuesday’s incident represents another shooting occurrence during the current administration’s intensified efforts to apprehend and remove undocumented immigrants, raising ongoing concerns about federal immigration enforcement tactics.
Kolasinski contends that officers opened fire on Mendoza while his vehicle was stationary, prompting him to drive away to escape the gunfire.
A court document dated October 25, 2019, from an El Salvadoran judge shows Mendoza was cleared of murder accusations and ordered released immediately. He was 29 years old at that time. The same document lists 10 other individuals who received convictions for crimes ranging from aggravated robbery to homicide, noting that at least one belonged to the 18th Street Gang. However, the document makes no reference to Mendoza having gang ties or participating in gang-related activities.
Regarding the California ICE incident, dashboard camera video secured by KCRA-TV reveals three officers positioned around a vehicle pulled over on a roadside. One officer appears to be making contact with the driver’s window when the car starts reversing and turning, striking another vehicle positioned behind it. Two officers can be seen with drawn firearms aimed at the car. The driver then accelerates forward toward the officers’ location and makes a sharp turn, crossing over the road’s median strip.
The footage lacks audio, making it impossible to determine the timing of gunshots or any verbal exchanges.
Kolasinski reported Monday that Mendoza’s fiancée visited him at the hospital over the weekend, where he remained in considerable pain.
According to Kolasinski, Mendoza holds citizenship in both El Salvador and Mexico and arrived in the United States in 2019, though the attorney was uncertain about his immigration status or method of entry.
The lawyer described his client as a construction worker specializing in fire damage restoration. Mendoza is the father of a 2-year-old daughter and is engaged to an American citizen, according to his attorney.
