ABC, NBC Are Upset ICE Shot a Gangbanger Trying to Run Over an Agent

The ICE agents were conducting a targeted vehicle stop in the Central Valley town of Patterson to arrest 18th Street Gang member Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, who is wanted in El Salvador in connection to a murder, according to authorities. The article goes on to describe the history and dangerousness of the gang. The gangbanger trying to run the ICE agent over is, to be clear, the protagonist of this story. But the networks insisted on making ICE the protagonist. Watch as ABC’s Pierre Thomas attempts to scandalize the shooting by citing it as an example of “volatile” immigration enforcement under the Trump administration: WATCH: ABC's Pierre Thomas tries to scandalize the ICE shooting of a gangbanger who tried to run an agent over, by citing it as an example of volatile immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. DAVID MUIR: Also just in tonight, we have learned of an investigation pic.twitter.com/8p3RbGDscA — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) April 8, 2026 ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT 4/7/26 6:40 PM DAVID MUIR: Also just in tonight, we have learned of an investigation of an ICE-involved shooting. Homeland Security saying federal agents opening fire outside San Jose, California, and what they claim the suspect was trying to do. Here is Pierre Thomas. PIERRE THOMAS: Tonight, the FBI investigating the chaotic moments seen in this video as ICE agents surround a vehicle outside of San Jose. Moments after the ICE agents approach the car it abruptly backs up, crashing into a truck and then swinging toward the agents as the driver speeds away. Those agents shooting at the car. Homeland Security officials claim that ICE agents were trying to arrest a suspected gang member wanted in El Salvador in connection to a murder. They say the driver weaponized his vehicle and attempted to run over the officers. Quote: “fired defensive shots to protect themselves, their fellow agents and the public.” The suspect identified as Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, who was taken to a local hospital, his condition unknown. It appears no agents were injured. David, this video shows just how volatile the administration's immigration enforcement campaign remains. MUIR: Pierre Thomas live in Washington. Pierre, thank you. By “volatile” immigration enforcement, of course, Thomas means to imply a connection to the unrest in Minnesota. But there is no connection between Minnesota and the shooting of the gangbanger, so Thomas just drops the hint and leaves it there for the viewer to surmise. NBC’s Maggie Vespa, however, leaves nothing to chance and makes a tenuous connection to Minnesota on the Nightly News. Her choice of case is quite interesting, too. WATCH: Unable to find fault with ICE shooting of an 18th Street gangbanger who tried to run the agent over, NBC's Maggie Vespa links to the totally unrelated shovel incident in Minneapolis. TOM LLAMAS: We turn to that shooting involving ICE officers today in northern California. pic.twitter.com/kpc6HdYlOA — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) April 8, 2026 NBC NIGHTLY NEWS 4/7/26 6:40 PM TOM LLAMAS: We turn to that shooting involving ICE officers today in northern California. The officers opening fire on a car as it speeds forward and was all caught on video. ICE says it happened during a targeted traffic stop to arrest a gang member wanted for murder. Here's Maggie Vespa. MAGGIE VESPA: Tonight, dramatic new video of an ICE shooting today in California east of the Bay Area. You see multiple SUVs and trucks pulled over, flashers on. At least three officers outside that black car, which suddenly backs up. Then, the car turns and speeds forward. Officers, guns drawn, appearing to move out of the way. Zooming in, at least one officer appears to fire. The car speeds to the left over the median. The video, which has no sound, ends there and doesn't show what led up to the driver taking off. ICE saying in a statement, “officers were conducting a targeted vehicle stop to arrest Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, an 18th Street gang member wanted in El Salvador for questioning in connection to a murder and he weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run an officer over.” Adding, “our officers fired defensive shots.” They say Hernandez was taken to a hospital. His condition tonight unknown. The FBI is now investigating. It comes as the city of Minneapolis releases this new video of another ICE shooting back in January, which contradicts the Trump administration's original account. DHS previously said an officer shot and wounded a Venezuelan man during an immigration enforcement operation after he and another man attacked the officer with a shovel and broom. But the new video shows one man appearing to drop a shovel, as another runs toward a house empty-handed. A third person believed to be the officer tackles him. Two unnamed ICE officers were suspended in February with the agency saying in a scathing statement, “they appeared to have made untruthful statements,” adding they could face “potential criminal prosecution.” Maggie Vespa, NBC News. When news of the shooting first broke my expectation was that some outlet would link it to the shooting of Rene Nicole Good, which drew initial heightened media coverage for Minnesota. Vespa went instead with a story that didn’t draw as much coverage, but has a concrete finding of agent malfeasance. And this is the reason why Vespa tied these completely unrelated stories together- with bailing wire and duct tape. CBS did not file an item on the agent-involved shooting, and nearly comes out better for not doing so. ABC and CBS demonstrated the alternative. Jorge Bonilla Tue, 04/07/2026 - 23:40 Marketing Timing Regular Search Engine Title ABC, NBC Are Upset ICE Shot a Gangbanger Trying to Run Over an Agent CNS Commentary Off