Oregon has opened a state investigation into a Border Patrol shooting in Portland that wounded a man and a woman whom DHS says are linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The shooting occurred during a targeted vehicle stop at about 2:19 p.m.; federal officials say the driver tried to run over an agent and an agent fired in self-defense. Both victims are hospitalized in stable condition and remain in federal custody. The FBI and ATF are investigating while the state review will examine whether federal officers acted lawfully.
Oregon Opens State Investigation After Border Patrol Agent Shoots Two People DHS Says Are Linked to Tren de Aragua
Law enforcement officials work a scene following reports that federal immigration officers shot and wounded people in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday. - Jenny Kane/AP
Oregon officials have launched a state investigation into a Border Patrol shooting in Portland that wounded a man and a woman whom the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says are linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The incident, which occurred during a targeted vehicle stop on Thursday afternoon, has intensified debate over federal immigration enforcement and the use of force by federal agents in U.S. cities.
Officials say Luis David Nino-Moncada was the driver of the car. - DHS
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the shooting took place at about 2:19 p.m. Portland time. Federal authorities say the driver attempted to run over a Border Patrol agent after agents identified themselves, and an agent opened fire in self-defense. The two occupants left the scene and were later found by Portland police; a senior law enforcement source said the man was shot in the arm and the woman was shot in the chest. Both are hospitalized in stable condition and remain in federal custody.
Federal authorities say Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras was a passenger in the car. - DHS
Federal officials identified the driver as Luis David Nino-Moncada and the passenger as Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras. DHS posted on X that both are Venezuelan nationals with alleged ties to Tren de Aragua. The agency said Nino-Moncada entered the U.S. in 2022 and has a final order of removal, while Zambrano-Contreras entered in 2023 near El Paso. DHS also alleged Zambrano-Contreras participated in a Tren de Aragua prostitution ring and was involved in a prior shooting in Portland; officials have not provided full details publicly.
FBI agents work next to an evidence truck outside Adventist Hospital after US federal agents shot two people in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday. - John Rudoff/Reuters
In the hours after the event, a DHS official initially relayed to media that the two were married, a detail McLaughlin later corrected. Local authorities confirmed Portland police officers were not involved in the initial federal stop but responded after reports of a shooting. Dispatch audio and statements indicate police later received a separate call from a man claiming he had been shot by federal officers.
People gather for a vigil for Renee Good, who was killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, on Wednesday in Portland. - Natalie Behring/Getty Images
The FBI has opened an investigation and has characterized the episode as an assault on federal officers; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is assisting. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced the state probe will examine whether any federal officer acted outside the scope of lawful authority and will review witness interviews, video evidence, and other relevant materials.
A Portland police officer stands outside the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, on Thursday. - Jenny Kane/AP
The shooting sparked protests outside the local ICE facility in Portland, where demonstrators have frequently gathered in recent months. Police arrested six people during Thursday night's demonstration, and Portland Police Chief Bob Day said some officers reported minor injuries. Elected leaders reacted strongly: Portland Mayor Keith Wilson called for ICE to halt operations in the city pending the investigation, and state lawmakers echoed demands for accountability.
Tren de Aragua is a Venezuelan gang that U.S. officials, including the Trump administration, have repeatedly cited in discussions of organized crime, human trafficking and violent activity. The Portland incident comes amid ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement teams and city and state officials who have criticized aggressive operations and described them as destabilizing for local communities.
State and federal investigators will continue to review evidence, and the FBI will assume custody of the two patients once they are medically cleared. Local officials and community leaders have urged transparency as inquiries proceed.
Help us improve.
