'Citizen Journalist,' Federal Agent Wounded By Gunfire During LA Immigration Stop

LOS ANGELES, CA — A U.S. marshal and a suspected undocumented immigrant — a local influencer known for posting videos of police activity — were wounded Tuesday after gunfire broke out during an immigration enforcement stop in Los Angeles.

The shooting occurred at around 8:50 a.m. on the 400 block of East 20th Street, just south of Washington Boulevard in South Los Angeles, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Public Affairs Officer Luis Alani.

The shooting occurred during what the Department of Homeland Security described as a “targeted traffic enforcement stop" of a man "who had previously escaped from custody."

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and U.S. Marshals pulled over the suspected undocumented immigrant by boxing in a suspect with their vehicle, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"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," Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

Both the officer and the suspect were hospitalized.

The wounded officer was a U.S Marshal, according to a statement from the U.S. Marshals Service, which noted the officer was in stable condition.

The suspect sustained non-life-threatening injuries, the Times reported.

The suspect was a "citizen journalist" known as Richard LA, according to Los Angeles City Councilman Curren Price Jr.'s office.

Richard LA, who has nearly 132,000 followers on TikTok, 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.

FBI agents processed the scene and are working with the U.S. Marshals Service and DHS on the investigation, the bureau wrote in a social media post.

The LAPD was providing "outer perimeter traffic control" at the scene of the investigation, a department public information officer said.

City News Service contributed to this report.