On Wednesday morning, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer sustained injuries during a targeted operation in south Los Angeles. The incident occurred near the unincorporated neighborhood of Willowbrook and the city of Compton, where immigration enforcement officers attempted to apprehend a suspect identified as William Eduardo Moran Carballo. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has categorized Carballo as a violent criminal hailing from El Salvador.
Shortly after 7 a.m., Carballo attempted to evade capture by immigration officers. In a dangerous turn of events, he “weaponized his vehicle and rammed law enforcement,” as reported by DHS. During this chaotic situation, a federal agent discharged their firearm, but fortunately, Carballo did not sustain any injuries. However, a CBP officer involved in the operation was injured, although the specifics regarding the nature and extent of these injuries remain unclear at this time.
William Eduardo Moran Carballo has a troubling history, including involvement in human smuggling operations. According to DHS, he has two prior arrests for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant. In a significant legal development, an immigration judge issued a final removal order against Carballo in 2019, underscoring the serious nature of his criminal activities.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene at approximately 7:25 a.m. Following the incident, investigators observed a damaged BMW sedan that appeared to have crashed into a curb, with a deployed airbag visible on the driver's side. Eyewitnesses reported a tense atmosphere, with one man in a livestreamed video vocally expressing his discontent, urging federal agents to leave the neighborhood, as a crowd gathered near the police tape that cordoned off the area.
This situation continues to develop, and the Department of Homeland Security has indicated that more information will be made available as it unfolds. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in managing violent crime and immigration enforcement in densely populated urban areas.