Phoenix Shooting During Traffic Stop: ICE Officer and Honduran Man Injured
In a tragic incident on Wednesday morning near Phoenix, Arizona, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer and a man from Honduras were injured when a shooting occurred during a traffic stop. The event unfolded at 4 a.m. along Interstate 17 in north Phoenix, where ICE officers pulled over Jose Garcia-Sorto. Initially, Garcia-Sorto stopped, but as officers approached his vehicle, he began to pull away, leading to a confrontation. According to reports from FOX 10 Phoenix, the officer fired his service weapon in self-defense, striking Garcia-Sorto’s car. Both individuals were hospitalized, though the extent of the officer’s injuries remains undisclosed.
Garcia-Sorto’s wife, Anahi, shared her emotional response to the incident with Arizona’s Family, stating that her husband was on his way to work when the shooting happened. She expressed her deep sorrow, saying, “He would get home and hug the [two] kids. And to see that he didn’t get here yesterday, it really hurts a lot, because I always wait for him here.” Anahi also revealed that she and her husband are in the country illegally, adding that she is praying for ICE despite her circumstances. She indicated that she will return to Honduras with her children if Garcia-Sorto is deported.
The FBI has initiated an investigation into the shooting, with officials from FOX 10 Phoenix reporting the probe. Additionally, the Arizona Department of Transportation temporarily closed the northbound exit ramp at Dove Valley Road during the investigation, which has since been reopened. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not yet responded to Fox News Digital’s request for further details on the incident. Furthermore, the article mentions a separate, recent event at a Dallas ICE facility where a shooter was killed, and a second detainee tragically died due to injuries sustained in the attack. These events highlight the complex and sometimes volatile interactions between law enforcement and individuals in custody, underscoring the need for clarity and transparency in such situations.