An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent was struck by a fleeing suspect’s vehicle during an attempted arrest in Stafford Township, New Jersey, on Monday morning, triggering gunfire, a large-scale law enforcement response, and an ongoing manhunt.
Officials said the agent fired his weapon after being hit, striking the suspect’s van as it fled the scene.
Authorities said the incident unfolded around 9:30 a.m. near Mermaid Drive in the Manahawkin section of Ocean County, roughly 60 miles east of Philadelphia.
Law enforcement officials said federal agents were conducting a targeted enforcement action when the suspect allegedly struck an ICE officer with a van while attempting to evade arrest, according to PhillyVoice.
Stafford Township police said the suspect fled immediately after the collision, prompting the ICE agent to discharge his weapon as the vehicle sped away.
Officials said it is believed gunfire struck the van, though it remains unclear whether the driver was injured during the exchange.
The agent was transported to a local hospital for treatment, and authorities have not publicly released details regarding the severity of his injuries.
In the aftermath of the incident, law enforcement agencies launched a coordinated search operation across the area, shutting down portions of Route 72 as federal, state, and local officers converged on the scene.
Witness accounts and aerial footage described a heavy law enforcement presence, with tactical units sweeping nearby neighborhoods and investigators securing evidence along the roadway, according to LifeZette.
Officials said the suspect abandoned the immediate area in the damaged van and remains at large as of Tuesday afternoon.
Investigators said surveillance footage and additional evidence were being reviewed to trace the vehicle’s movements following the shooting and identify the driver’s location.
PhillyVoice reported that an ICE spokesperson identified the suspect as Friedrich Castillo-Ormeno, an illegal alien from Peru who had previously been ordered removed from the United States by an immigration judge.
Authorities said the individual was the subject of a targeted enforcement action at the time of the confrontation.
ICE officials described the incident as part of a broader pattern of vehicle-related assaults on federal agents during enforcement operations.
Resist the Mainstream reported in February that the agency said such encounters have increased in recent years, with 182 reported vehicular assaults between January 21, 2025, and January 24, 2026.
Local authorities said Stafford Township police were not directly involved in the ICE operation due to New Jersey’s Immigrant Trust Directive, which limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement, according to The Independent.
Officials said their role was limited to securing the area, managing traffic, and assisting with the emergency response after the incident occurred.
The investigation remains active, with multiple federal and local agencies continuing efforts to locate the suspect and determine the full circumstances of the encounter.
Officials have not released further details regarding the underlying reason for the attempted arrest or whether additional charges will be filed in connection with the incident.
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