An illegal immigrant and suspected Venezuelan gang member shot by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers during a Jan. 8 confrontation in Portland had been linked to an earlier shooting months before.
[snip]
A neighbor who witnessed that incident described it as shocking for a normally peaceful area.
Justin Pitones told KGW8 he was home at the time and heard breaking glass before seeing sheriff’s deputies moving through his yard with weapons drawn.
Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras was arrested for allegedly attempting to weaponize a vehicle against ICE in Portland, Ore. (Department of Homeland Security)
“It was broad daylight. That was kind of the weird part,” Pitones said. “This is a quiet neighborhood.” He said officers later described the incident to him as “a deal gone bad,” adding that neighbors never expected it would escalate into a federal shooting months later.
[snip]
Authorities declined further comment, directing additional questions to federal investigators. Portland police also declined to comment beyond statements made during recent news conferences.
A damaged Border Patrol vehicle that was struck by Luis Moncada during an attempted arrest, authorities said. (Justice Department)
The July shooting adds new context to the Jan. 8 confrontation, when CBP officers attempted to stop Zambrano-Contreras and her husband, Luis Nino-Moncada, in Portland.
Federal prosecutors say Nino-Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras, described as having ties to the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, were inside a Toyota Tacoma when Border Patrol agents moved to conduct a targeted traffic stop.
[snip]
Portland police officers in riot gear detain protesters during a demonstration near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility Jan. 8, 2026, in Portland, Ore. Police said six people were arrested during the protest. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
Fearing for their safety, a Border Patrol agent opened fire, striking both suspects, prosecutors allege.
[snip]
The Justice Department said there was no body-worn camera video from the six Border Patrol agents involved, and efforts to locate video of the confrontation through surveillance cameras or social media were unsuccessful.
Prosecutors highlighted Moncada’s immigration history and criminal background, including prior arrests for driving under the influence and unauthorized use of a vehicle, noting he had been released into the country by the Biden administration despite his status.
[snip]
The Portland shooting came just days after a controversial and fatal ICE agent-involved shooting in Minneapolis, where 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was killed during a separate immigration enforcement operation. Federal officials said Good was shot after she allegedly attempted to weaponize her vehicle against ICE agents.
Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
Stepheny Price is a Writer at Fox News with a focus on West Coast and Midwest news, missing persons, national and international crime stories, homicide cases, and border security.
* Original Article:
https://www.foxnews.com/us/suspected-venezuelan-gangster-portland-cbp-attack-tied-shooting-apartment-complex-police