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On Thursday, a Border Patrol agent shot two individuals in Portland, Oregon, following a traffic stop. The Department of Homeland Security stated the agent acted in self-defense after the driver attempted to use the vehicle as a weapon. The driver, Luis David Nino-Moncada, has been charged with aggravated assault of a federal officer, and authorities allege both individuals are associated with the Tren de Aragua gang. The incident sparked immediate backlash from local officials, with the Oregon Attorney General launching an investigation, and calls for federal agencies to cease operations in the city. The FBI is leading the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified two individuals shot in Portland, Oregon, as suspected associates of the Tren de Aragua gang, alleging the shooting occurred after a driver “weaponized their vehicle” against a Border Patrol agent. The driver, Luis David Nico Moncada, and passenger, Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, were identified as “criminal illegal aliens from Venezuela” who had entered the U.S. in 2022 and 2023 respectively. DHS further claimed Moncada had a DUI and vehicle misuse arrest and that Contreras was involved in a prostitution ring and a prior shooting. Local leaders and officials, including the Oregon Governor and Portland Mayor, have called for investigations, transparency, and accountability regarding the shooting.
John Q. Hosedrinker