During an immigration enforcement operation in South Los Angeles, a deputy U.S. Marshal and a suspect were wounded by gunfire. This shooting occurred during the morning hours at around 8:52 a.m. in the 400 block of East 20th Street near Trinity Street in the Historic South-Central neighborhood. Essentially, the suspect in question is 44-year-old Carlitos Ricardo Parias, who goes by “Richard LA” on TikTok, where he has documented ICE raids for his 130,000 followers. This incident has sparked community reaction, with activists holding a rally and press conference to protest the ICE operations.
What led to the ICE agent shooting Richard LA?
Federal officials, comprising U.S. Marshals and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, conducted a targeted enforcement traffic stop on an unauthorized immigrant who had previously fled from custody. According to DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, the suspect (Richard LA) weaponized his vehicle and began ramming the law enforcement vehicle in an attempt to flee.Aerial footage from local news sites showed that a dark-colored automobile was surrounded by government vehicles. This is a frequent method used in immigration enforcement operations. When the subject tried to flee, federal authorities had no option but to fire defensive bullets. Following this, the suspect was shot once in the elbow, while a deputy U.S. Marshal was struck in the hand by a ricochet bullet. Both individuals were transported to California Hospital in downtown Los Angeles with non-life-threatening injuries.
Suspect’s Identity (Richard LA)
The suspect is 44-year-old Carlitos Ricardo Parias, who goes by “Richard LA” on TikTok. Witnesses on site confirmed that Parias is a well-known TikToker who regularly follows immigration enforcement operations. After being boxed in by the officials, Parias allegedly rammed his Toyota Camry into the vehicles. Richard LA also spun the vehicle’s tires, spewing smoke and debris, causing agents to fear for their safety.
Community response to the incident
This incident triggered a significant community reaction, and crowds gathered at both the shooting scene and outside the California Hospital. Activists also held a rally and press conference to protest ICE operations. Los Angeles Councilmember Curren Price added on this matter and defended Parias on his social media handles. His post read: “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.”Another reactive aspect of the incident was that it occurred less than a block from Santee Education Complex, a high school where hundreds of students were attending class at the time. While campus operations were not immediately affected, the proximity of the event ultimately sparked concerns about enforcing such measures near schools.
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