The family and attorney of Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, a 36-year-old man shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on April 7 in Northern California, believe he was wrongly targeted based on inaccurate information.
Mendoza Hernandez, an undocumented immigrant, was stopped by federal immigration officers for questioning related to a murder investigation. However, his family and lawyer argue that he was the victim of a serious mistake.
The Incident
Mendoza Hernandez was stopped by ICE officers around 6:30 a.m. on April 7 in Patterson, California. According to ICE, officers approached his vehicle to question him about a murder case when Mendoza Hernandez allegedly attempted to use his vehicle to run over an officer.
In response, ICE officers fired defensive shots to protect themselves, other agents, and the public, according to Todd Lyons, an acting ICE officer.
However, Patrick Kolasinski, Mendoza Hernandez’s attorney, disputes the claim that Mendoza Hernandez was trying to harm the officers.
Instead, Kolasinski suggests that Mendoza Hernandez was attempting to flee when he was shot by officers. He believes that Mendoza Hernandez was mistakenly targeted based on incorrect information.
Disputed Claims
ICE initially claimed that Mendoza Hernandez was a “wanted gang member” associated with the 18th Street Gang. However, Kolasinski refutes this, stating that Mendoza Hernandez’s family in El Salvador confirmed that he was never involved in any gang activities.
Additionally, there were no active warrants for Mendoza Hernandez’s arrest at the time of the incident, and he had been living in Patterson since 2019.
Kolasinski noted that Mendoza Hernandez had previously been arrested in El Salvador in connection with a murder case. He was later acquitted of the charges, and Kolasinski believes that this arrest may have contributed to the mistaken targeting by ICE. He emphasized that the shooting might have been a result of “bad information.”
The Search for Mendoza Hernandez’s Whereabouts
Following the shooting, Mendoza Hernandez’s family and attorney were left in the dark about his condition and whereabouts. Kolasinski visited Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, where Mendoza Hernandez was reportedly being treated, but he was denied information about his client’s health.
Cindy, Mendoza Hernandez’s fiancé, was also told that he was no longer listed in the hospital’s system when she tried to visit him.
A social worker at the hospital had informed Cindy that Mendoza Hernandez’s condition was stable, but no further details were provided. As of the press conference, Cindy and Kolasinski had not received an update on his condition or location.
Cindy’s Emotional Response
Cindy, Mendoza Hernandez’s fiancé, expressed her emotional distress at the situation. She spoke about how the family had been impacted by the shooting, especially their 2-year-old daughter, who had been waiting for her father to return home.
Cindy explained that it was difficult for her daughter to sleep, as she was asking for her father and looking around for him.
During the press conference, Cindy emphasized the personal toll this incident had taken on her family. She described Mendoza Hernandez as a hardworking father who would travel long distances to restore homes and still make it home in time to put his daughter to bed.
Family’s Call for Answers
Cindy voiced her frustration about the lack of communication from authorities and the social media backlash against the family. She urged for answers and expressed concern over the harmful comments being made online, stating that it was painful to see people wishing harm upon her fiancé.
“How did we get to this point as humans? Why are we wishing for someone’s death?” Cindy said. She called for a more humane approach and pleaded for clarity regarding the incident.
