Man Shot by ICE Agents During California Traffic Stop Indicted by Federal Grand Jury

A federal grand jury in California has indicted Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez on two counts of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon and one count of destruction of government property, court records show. The charges stem from a traffic stop on April 7 in which federal agents say they fired at Mendoza Hernandez as he attempted to flee. He was later hospitalized, underwent multiple surgeries, and was taken into FBI custody after his release.

What the Federal Complaint Alleges

The criminal complaint says agents had been surveilling Mendoza Hernandez’s home and followed him when he left on the morning of April 7 as part of an operation to locate and arrest him as an undocumented immigrant. According to the complaint, Mendoza Hernandez identified himself but repeatedly refused orders to exit his vehicle. After agents broke a front passenger window to remove him, the complaint alleges, Mendoza Hernandez drove forward, striking an agent, reversed into a federal vehicle and then accelerated toward officers. He reportedly mounted the center median, drove the wrong way against traffic, collided with another vehicle and came to rest about 500 feet from the stop.

Use Of Force And Injuries

The complaint states that two agents discharged their firearms during the incident. Mendoza Hernandez was shot roughly six times, including a wound to the face, and received medical aid at the scene. His attorney says Mendoza Hernandez underwent three surgeries at a hospital and was later taken into FBI custody on April 13.

Law enforcement works the scene of a reported shooting in Stanislaus County, California, on April 7, 2026. - KCRA

Defense Claims And Conflicting Narratives

ICE described Mendoza Hernandez as an undocumented member of the 18th Street Gang who was wanted in El Salvador for questioning in connection to a murder. Mendoza Hernandez’s attorney, Patrick Kolasinski, disputed the gang claim at a news conference the day after the shooting, saying, “From everything we can find, he was not” a gang member. Kolasinski also said his client attempted to flee only after he was shot at and feared for his life. He added that he received information the suspect had been accused of murder in El Salvador but was acquitted, and that an attorney in El Salvador was retained to verify whether any active warrant exists.

Evidence And Ongoing Inquiries

Dashcam video reviewed by CNN did not make the sequence of events fully clear, and public accounts contain conflicting details. Federal prosecutors allege Mendoza Hernandez’s vehicle damaged government property and endangered officers, while his lawyer contests the characterization of his client as a gang member and disputes aspects of the agents’ narrative. CNN has sought comment from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security; the U.S. Attorney’s Office and listed defense counsel were also contacted for comment.

Court Proceedings And Custody

An arraignment and status hearing is scheduled for Monday at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd, according to court filings. A judge initially set a $50,000 bond, but on April 20 a court ordered Mendoza Hernandez detained as a flight risk. It was unclear where he was being held at the time of the reports.

Note: This account summarizes public court records and statements from defense counsel and ICE. The investigation and legal process are ongoing, and additional evidence may further clarify the sequence of events.