FRANKLIN PARK, Ill. (WGN) — A man was shot and killed by ICE Friday morning in the Chicago suburb of Franklin Park, and an agent suffered severe injuries after being dragged by a vehicle, according to Nexstar’s WGN.
ICE claims that agents were conducting law enforcement activity in the 9800 block of Grand Avenue and subsequently conducted a vehicle stop. ICE says a man resisted and attempted to drive his vehicle into the arresting team, dragging an agent in the process.
The agent discharged his firearm and struck the man driving. Both the man and the agent were transported to a local hospital.
The man, identified by the Department of Homeland Security as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, was pronounced dead at the hospital, and the agent was stabilized but suffered severe injuries, according to ICE.
The gunshots were captured by surveillance cameras of a nearby Franklin Park auto repair and tire shop.
“Franklin Park is heavily Latino, so yes, my fear was that ICE would be coming here,” said Jose Pedro de Blas.
WGN News spoke with a neighbor of the man. The neighbor said ICE has already raised the general level of fear in the community, and and added that Villegas-Gonzalez, who didn’t speak English, was likely scared.
WGN Investigates found that Villegas-Gonzalez’s only prior cases in Cook County have been for traffic violations.
There were four cases in all, dating back to 2010. The most recent traffic case was in 2019 for operating an uninsured motor vehicle. He had also been cited several times previously for infractions, including speeding, driving on an expired license, and without insurance, as well as violating Chicago’s muffler noise ordinance.
There are no prior or pending federal cases for him in the Northern District of Illinois.
ICE claims Villegas-Gonzalez entered the country at an unknown date and time.
“Viral social media videos and activists encouraging illegal aliens to resist law enforcement not only spread misinformation, but also undermine public safety, the safety of our officers and those being apprehended,” an ICE spokesperson said.
U.S. Rep Brad Schneider (D-10th District) said he’s monitoring the situation and posted the following statement:
“I’m monitoring the reports of the fatal shooting of a man after an ICE traffic stop in Franklin Park, and am awaiting full details on what exactly happened this morning. However, what I do know is that President Trump’s strategy to use intimidation and chaos in his ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ is creating a climate of anxiety and fear, something that is bad for everyone. This climate of fear increases the likelihood of circumstances that threaten our community’s safety and the safety of our public safety officials, too.”
Illinois State Representative Norma Hernandez (D-77th District) said she, like so many others, was stunned by Friday’s incident and outraged over the loss of life.
“What happened should not have happened,” Hernandez said. “A beloved community member that has lost his life on an unconstitutional traffic stop here in Franklin Park Illinois.”
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