EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot at two suspects who allegedly tried to "ram their vehicle" into officers during an enforcement operation near Colorado Springs Thursday afternoon.
A law enforcement source told Denver7 that ICE was conducting a targeted operation at a construction site in Black Forest, north of Colorado Springs, when the incident occurred.
According to a statement from ICE, the ICE agent fired three shots into the vehicle. The two suspects got away and later abandoned the vehicle, according to the agency.
No one was injured. A search is underway for the two suspects.
- Read the full statement from ICE below
“Two criminal aliens attempted to ram their vehicle into ICE officers during a targeted enforcement operation in Colorado Springs, Colorado, July 31. As a result of their violent actions and to protect the officers and agents onsite, an officer fired three shots into the vehicle. The aliens fled and later abandoned the vehicle. Law enforcement officials are currently searching for the fugitives.
“ICE officers are facing an 830% increase in assaults. Lies and violent rhetoric incites hostility against the brave men and women of ICE who put their lives on the line every day to protect American communities, as we witnessed in Colorado today.
“No injuries are reported at this time. The investigation is ongoing.”
Images captured by our AirTracker7 and Denver7's Claire Lavezzorio show a large police presence in the area.
Scripps News Colorado Springs reports that a shelter-in-place was issued for a quarter-mile radius around Burgess Road between Windmill Road and Greentree Road. Residents in the area were urged to stay away from doors and windows and shelter in place until further notice.
That shelter-in-place order was lifted just before 6:30 p.m.
According to ICE, the two suspects were in the country illegally.
In a statement, the FBI field office in Denver said it is "investigating an alleged assault on a federal officer that occurred in El Paso County" and could not provide further information.
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