FBI Investigating ICE Agent Firing At Fleeing Car That Struck Him

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — The FBI is handling an investigation following an ICE agent being struck by a vehicle while trying to pull it over, officials said.

The incident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. Monday on Route 72 near Mermaid Drive, Stafford police said.

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ICE agents were trying to arrest Freidrich Castillo-Ormeno, a man from Peru who officers said was in the country illegally, ICE said in a statement on X.

The vehicle struck the agent and drove off, authorities said. The ICE agent shot at the retreating vehicle, police said.

Castillo-Ormeno was still at-large as of 8:41 p.m. Monday, ICE officials said.

"ICE agents put their lives on the line every day to enforce our nation's laws and protect our communities," Rep. Jeff Van Drew said in a statement. "Yet too many politicians and activists continue to demonize them for doing the job they are sworn to do. This incident is a reminder of the dangers these brave men and women face. I am grateful the agent is expected to recover, and I will always stand with ICE and law enforcement."

Stafford police follow the Attorney General’s Immigrant Trust Directive, so local officers were not assisting ICE and were not part of the ICE operation.

Any further updates will be released by the FBI.