TikToker Shot In LA Immigration Stop Makes First Court Appearance

LOS ANGELES, CA — An influencer known for chronicling law enforcement activity who was shot and arrested during a confrontation with immigration agents in Los Angeles pleaded not guilty to an assault charge.

Carlitos Parias, 44, is charged with assault on a federal officer, which could carry up to eight years in federal prison.

Parias remains in custody at a federal lockup downtown while the U.S. Attorney's Office appeals a magistrate judge's order granting him release on bond. A new detention hearing has yet to be scheduled.

Parias — known as Richard LA — is a prominent TikTok creator who posts Spanish-language videos on the platform, including content documenting activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Parias is suspected of being in the United States without legal documentation, and he was the target of the arrest.

The incident that led to the assault charge occurred last month in South Los Angeles.

Parias was under surveillance and the subject of an immigration arrest warrant. After he left a home in the area, federal agents proceeded to use three vehicles to block the car Parias was driving.

Parias is accused of driving the car forward and back, hitting two of the federal vehicles. As he unsuccessfully attempted to dislodge his car, he drove more aggressively, spinning the car's wheels leading to "large plumes of smoke," prosecutors said.

Ultimately, a federal agent opened fire, wounding the suspect in the elbow, with a ricochet bullet then striking a U.S. marshal in a hand.

• Read an in-depth breakdown of the case against Parias and his work as a respected citizen journalist

Federal immigration authorities say that Parias was under surveillance after previously having escaped custody in the past.

But the Los Angeles Times reported that a video posted online of that previous incident contradicts public accounts by Department of Homeland Security officials.

A trial date of Dec. 30 was scheduled in Los Angeles federal court.

City News Service contributed to this report.