A man shot by border patrol agents in Portland is now facing federal charges.
Luis Nino-Moncada has been charged with aggravated assault of a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon and depredation of federal property in excess of $1,000, the Department of Justice announced on Monday.
A group of six U.S. Border Patrol agents were conducting targeted immigration enforcement on Thursday when the incident occurred. They were attempting to apprehend Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, “a Venezuelan illegal alien affiliated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring,” according to court documents. She was also allegedly on the scene of a shooting in Washington County involving a pair of her clients and two of known associates in the summer of 2024.
Tren de Aragua is a known Venezuelan gang.
Zambrano-Contreras was in the passenger seat of a red Toyota Tacoma, which was being driven by Nino-Moncada at the time. Authorities stopped the vehicle near Adventist Health in Southeast Portland. When they ordered Nino-Moncada out of the vehicle, he instead put it in reverse, slamming into “an unoccupied Border Patrol vehicle with enough speed and force to cause significant damage,” the DOJ said in a press release. He continued on to ram the vehicle several times before fleeing the scene.
“Fearing for his life and safety, an agent fired a defensive shot,” it said. “The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene.”
Nino-Moncada later “admitted to intentionally ramming the Border Patrol vehicle in an attempt to flee, and he stated that he knew they were immigration enforcement vehicles,” according to an affidavit.
Nino-Moncada called 911 for medical help after he arrived back at a nearby apartment complex. He was placed in FBI custody after being treated for a gunshot wound to the arm and abdomen. He repeatedly stated “F— ICE!” as he was receiving medical care, according to the affidavit.
Zambrano-Contreras was also struck by the gunfire. They are both Venezuelan nationals accused of entering the country illegally.
With News Wire Services