Early Wednesday morning, a man was injured in a shooting involving a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on Interstate 17 in Phoenix. The Department of Homeland Security reports that ICE officers conducted a traffic stop around 4 a.m. near Dove Valley Road, where the driver, identified as Jose Garcia-Sorto from Honduras, initially complied before attempting to flee the scene.
As reported by FOX 10 Phoenix, when Garcia-Sorto started to pull away, "an officer was in the path of the vehicle," causing the officer to fire his service weapon, striking the vehicle. Garcia-Sorto was transported to a hospital and is said to be in stable condition, while the officer involved was also hospitalized.
AZ Family notes that the FBI is now investigating the incident as an Assault on a Federal Officer (AFO), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona will review the case to decide on potential charges. It remains unclear whether Garcia-Sorto was struck by gunfire or sustained injuries by other means.
The incident caused significant traffic disruptions, including the temporary closure of the northbound I-17 off-ramp at Dove Valley Road. Department of Public Safety troopers assisted with the traffic control, and the roadway has since been cleared. In the wake of the shooting, a substantial law enforcement presence was observed, with visible damage to the driver's side window of the SUV.
With federal authorities now leading the probe, further details surrounding the circumstances of the shooting are expected to emerge as the FBI delves deeper into the events that unfolded before dawn on the interstate. The results of their investigation will inform the decisions on any follow-up legal actions against those involved in this high-tension encounter.
