Federal authorities have confirmed that two individuals shot by an immigration agent during a Portland, Oregon traffic stop possess connections to the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, unfolded when a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agent initiated a routine stop.
According to official statements, the agent discharged his weapon in self-defense after the driver attempted to use the vehicle as a weapon. Portland Police Chief Bob Day stated during a Friday press briefing that both individuals sustained injuries but are currently conscious and recovering in hospital care.
The DHS has identified the driver as Luis David Nino-Moncada, who allegedly entered the United States illegally in 2022 and has prior arrests for driving under influence and unauthorized vehicle use. The passenger was identified as Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, who reportedly crossed the border illegally near El Paso, Texas in 2023.
Federal officials clarified that contrary to some media reports, the two are not married. The DHS further alleged that Zambrano-Contreras participated actively in a Tren de Aragua prostitution operation and may have been involved in a previous Portland shooting incident.
Following the shooting, the vehicle traveled approximately five miles before the occupants summoned emergency medical services at an apartment complex. Chief Day confirmed investigative links between the individuals and a July shooting incident involving alleged Tren de Aragua members, though specific details remain undisclosed.
The police chief emphasized that while Tren de Aragua maintains some presence in Portland, its operational scale appears less extensive than public perception might suggest. This shooting incident occurred amidst heightened immigration enforcement operations across multiple US cities, including recent sweeps in Minneapolis where a similar agent-involved shooting took place.
Thursday night witnessed significant public response as hundreds gathered outside a Portland immigration detention facility in protest, resulting in six arrests for disorderly conduct.