A U.S. Marshal and a suspect — a man known for posting videos of South Los Angeles law enforcement and fire department activity on TikTok — were shot and wounded Tuesday during a federal law enforcement traffic stop south of downtown.
The shooting was reported about 8:50 a.m. in the 400 block of East 20th Street, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Public Affairs Officer Luis Alani.
According to a statement from the U.S. Marshals Service, the marshal was wounded while attempting to take a suspect into custody who was wanted on suspicion of entering the country illegally.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement saying the confrontation involved “an illegal alien who had previously escaped from custody” and who “attempted to evade arrest yet again.”
“ICE law enforcement officers, assisted by U.S. Marshals, pulled the illegal alien over in a standard law enforcement procedure,” McLaughlin said. “The illegal alien weaponized his vehicle and began ramming the law enforcement vehicle in an attempt to flee. Fearing for the safety of the public and law enforcement, our officers followed their training and fired defensive shots. The illegal alien was shot in the elbow and one law enforcement officer was shot in the hand by a ricochet bullet. Both are in the hospital.”
A statement from the U.S. Marshals Service said the marshal was in stable condition.
The suspect also sustained non-life-threatening injuries, the Los Angeles Times reported.
No details were released about the suspect who was injured in the shooting, but Los Angeles City Councilman Curren Price Jr.’s office posted on social media that the man was a “citizen journalist” known as Richard LA, who has nearly 132,000 followers on TikTok and is known for posting videos of police and fire incidents in South Los Angeles.
“Richard is a pillar of our community, a fearless citizen journalist whose authentic storytelling has consistently uplifted the unheard voices of South Central Los Angeles,” according to the post by Price’s office. “His unfiltered portrayal of real life has fostered a loyal following, both on TikTok and throughout our city. Richard LA exemplifies what it means to serve your community with courage and heart. … We stand in solidarity with Richard and his family during this difficult time.”
Angelina Valencia-Dumarot, a spokeswoman for Price, told City News Service that Price’s chief of staff, Jose Ugarte, went to the hospital where the suspect was being treated and spoke to Richard LA’s son, who confirmed that his father had been shot. At that time, the son had not yet been able to see Richard LA, so he had no update on his condition, she said.
An attorney representing Richard LA’s family confirmed to reporters that he was the person shot in the confrontation. He also had no immediate update on his condition.
A witness to the morning confrontation told ABC7 that the suspect was inside a car and apparently was refusing to come out, and federal agents appeared to fire tear gas or some other chemical agent into the vehicle to get the person to exit the vehicle.
Federal agencies, including the FBI, and the LAPD were investigating the shooting.