A 39-year-old Los Angeles man with a lengthy criminal history has been charged with hurling a Molotov cocktail at a hotel where federal immigration agents were staying during a recent immigration enforcement operation. The incident occurred on June 21 at a hotel near Los Angeles International Airport, where 15 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and 12 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents were temporarily stationed. According to court documents, Eric Anthony Rodriguez, 39, faces federal charges for having a bomb or explosive device.
The attack was thwarted when the Molotov cocktail landed in bushes and was extinguished by a hotel employee, preventing any injuries. Law enforcement, including the Los Angeles Police Department, quickly identified Rodriguez using surveillance footage from nearby businesses and arrested him hours later after he was found asleep near a gas station just one block away from the hotel. Rodriguez’s arrest has sparked renewed discussions about the dangers of anti-government rhetoric and its potential to incite violence.
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, condemned the attack, stating that the suspect’s actions were a direct threat to the safety of federal officers. She linked the incident to a broader pattern of violence against law enforcement, noting the role of