Crime & Safety
Morris County ICE Shooting: What We Know
An independent investigation into the shooting has been launched by the NJ Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.
MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A gun was fired during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Morris County on Tuesday after a suspect tried to ram an agent with his car, federal officials said.
On Tuesday, ICE was conducting an operation in Roxbury to apprehend Jesus Fabian Lopez-Banegas, a Honduran national, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson.
The DHS says that Lopez-Banegas was wanted for drug trafficking charges, drug possession, and driving under the influence, adding that a judge ordered him to be removed from the country in 2021.
Find out what's happening in Morristownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
During the arrest, Lopez-Banegas attempted to evade agents and rammed into a law enforcement vehicle before trying to run over an agent with his own, DHS officials said.
One ICE agent, “following his training,” fired his gun into one of Lopez-Banegas’ tires to stop the vehicle, according to the DHS. Officials haven’t confirmed how many shots were fired.
Find out what's happening in Morristownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
No injuries were reported in the incident, according to authorities.
Lopez-Banegas was taken into ICE custody shortly after the shooting.
“Our officers are facing a 3,200 percent increase in vehicle attacks and a more than 1,300 percent increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest vicious criminal illegal aliens,” the spokesperson said.
It's not clear exactly where in Roxbury this occurred, but local police closed Landing Road from Shippenport Road to Lakeside Boulevard around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Acting New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that the incident would be under investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability on Tuesday night.
Anyone with video footage of the incident is asked to call the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability’s tipline at 1-844-674-2847.
Patch has reached out to Roxbury officials for information and has not heard back as of Wednesday morning.
Roxbury has been dealing with ICE concerns since the agency announced plans to turn a local warehouse into an ICE detention center.
Check back with Patch as more information is made available.
More:
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
