ICE Agent Shoots, Wounds Man While Serving Warrant In Case Lawyer Calls 'Pretty Bizarre'

CHICAGO, IL — A 53-year-old man was shot and wounded by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Monday morning while a warrant was being served at a Northwest Side home, the Chicago Tribune reports. But reports over why gunfire broke out — along with why the arrest warrant was being served — is unclear, and the lawyer for the injured man says his client was shot "without cause."

The shooting happened at about 6:20 a.m. Monday, March 27, in the 6100 block of West Grand Avenue in the Belmont Central neighborhood, the report stated. ICE agents were serving a warrant at the residence at that location when a man at the house confronted them, the report added.

Initially, Chicago police reported that the man opened fire first, and an ICE agent shot back, wounding the man in the left arm. A later statement by the federal agency, however, claimed the man didn't shoot at all.

"ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) attempted to make an arrest in Chicago, Illinois, on March 27, when a second individual pointed a weapon toward agents," said Carl Rusnok, communications director for ICE's Central Region based in Dallas. "As a result, a special agent discharged his firearm and shot the individual, injuring him."

But the daughter of the wounded man disputes that description of events, telling Chris Hush of NBC 5 Chicago that there weren't any guns in the house.

The man was taken to Stroger Hospital in serious condition, according to the Tribune.

Thomas Hallock, the wounded man's lawyer, told the Tribune he visited his client in the hospital Monday and was still finding out the facts of the shooting, which he called "pretty bizarre." Hallock said seven or eight people were at the house when agents arrived, and he has yet to be told who or what the warrant was for, nor has ICE released those details.

"I don’t know if there was some sort of mistake here or what,” Hallock told the Tribune, claiming agents pounded on the house's door, and his client was wounded after he answered it.

"He opened the door and, without cause, they shot him," the lawyer added.

The 23-year-old son of the man who was wounded was detained briefly by Chicago police, the report stated. He is set to appear in court Wednesday, March 29, in a case involving felony gun possession charges, the report added.

“I don’t know that they had a warrant, but they certainly made forced entry into the house,”

An early report said Hallock's client and the individual listed in the warrant had both been taken into custody by autorities, but it's unclear now if that was the case.

According to a Chicago Police Department statement, officers were not at the scene when the shooting occurred, but the department is investigating the incident.

"CPD officers did not participate in the federal initiative today [Monday], but officers responded quickly to the shooting involving the federal agent," the statement said. "CPD will investigate the underlying criminal offense and work in collaboration with DHS and the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois."

In his statement, Rusnok said the agency will be conducting its own investigation into the shooting. Details concerning the nature of the warrant and why agents were sent to arrest the individual have not been disclosed.

"Any time an ICE officer or special agent discharges their firearm in the line of duty, the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility reviews the matter," he said. "Due to this ongoing review, no further details will be released at this time."

More via the Chicago Tribune

UPDATED (5:59 p.m. Monday, March 27)

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