An off-duty Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer allegedly shot and killed an armed man outside the officer’s Los Angeles apartment complex late on New Year’s Eve, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The incident occurred around 10:45 p.m. in the Northridge neighborhood, DHS said. ICE operates under DHS oversight.
According to a statement from DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, the off-duty ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officer was inside his apartment when he heard what he believed were multiple gunshots. As the sound of gunfire grew closer, the officer went outside carrying his ICE-authorized firearm.
McLaughlin said the officer encountered a man who appeared to be armed with a long rifle after turning a corner within the apartment complex. The officer identified himself as law enforcement and ordered the individual to put the weapon down. Authorities allege the man instead pointed the firearm at the officer and failed to comply with commands.
“When the subject refused to comply, the officer fired defensively with his service weapon at the subject to disarm him,” McLaughlin said, adding that the individual fired at least three rounds at the officer.
After the exchange, the ICE officer returned to his apartment to retrieve his ICE-issued body armor to protect himself against potential rifle fire and then reported the incident to the Los Angeles Police Department, according to DHS.
LAPD officers responding to the scene found the man who had been shot and pronounced him dead. The ICE officer was not injured.
Sources familiar with the investigation said there appears to have been no prior connection between the officer and the man who was killed.
ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility is coordinating with the LAPD as the investigation continues, McLaughlin said. LAPD confirmed it responded to a report of shots fired involving a federal agent but did not provide additional details.
Authorities have not released the names of the ICE officer or the deceased individual.
