Federal Agents Shoot Woman in Brighton Park, Igniting Protests and Conflicting Accounts

A shooting involving federal immigration authorities and a Chicago woman in Brighton Park yesterday morning has sparked immediate protests and ignited a fierce debate, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and pro-immigrant groups offering starkly different accounts of the incident.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin asserted that federal officers were “forced to deploy their weapons and fire defensive shots at an armed U.S. citizen” after their vehicle was allegedly “boxed in” and rammed near 39th Street and South Kedzie Avenue. McLaughlin claimed a semi-automatic gun was recovered and that the woman, who was treated and released from Mount Sinai Hospital, had appeared in a prior U.S. Customs and Border Patrol bulletin.

Conversely, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and rapid response volunteers presented a contrasting narrative. Brandon Lee, an ICIRR spokesperson, stated their understanding that “ICE’s car collided with a civilian car and then agents shot five bullets.” Bystanders corroborated claims that federal agents rammed a civilian vehicle and detained its driver, 21-year-old Anthony Ruiz, whose mother vehemently disputed the federal account.

The shooting quickly drew dozens of protesters to the Brighton Park intersection, leading to a tense standoff. While initially peaceful, the confrontation escalated as federal agents deployed gas masks, tear gas, and flash-bang grenades, pushing a young man to the ground. Protesters responded by throwing water bottles and street signs as agents began to depart the scene.

Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros condemned the woman’s actions, vowing to prosecute those who obstruct federal law enforcement. In response, ICIRR issued a severe warning to volunteers, stating that tracking Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents now carries an “extremely high risk of arrest/detention and of personal physical safety,” declaring, “These agents are 100% out of control.” This incident marks the second time federal authorities have fired weapons at civilians since “Operation Midway Blitz” began last month, intensifying scrutiny over federal immigration enforcement tactics.

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