PORTLAND, Oregon — A quiet Thursday afternoon turned tense when federal agents shot a married Venezuelan couple during a vehicle stop in Southeast Portland, leaving the community shaken and sparking protests across the city. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has now identified the two people wounded as Luis David Nico Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, a husband and wife from Venezuela.
Officials say a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent fired at the couple just after 2:15 p.m. on January 8 in the Hazelwood neighborhood. DHS described the encounter as a “targeted vehicle stop” and claims that Moncada, who was driving, tried to use his vehicle to strike the agents after they identified themselves. When the driver allegedly “weaponized” the truck, an agent fired a defensive shot, hitting both Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras.
Portland police arrived at the scene minutes later, finding the couple with gunshot wounds. They had driven several miles from where the shooting occurred before stopping and calling for help. First responders treated their injuries and transported them to a nearby hospital; their current condition remains unknown.
DHS has described both Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras as undocumented immigrants from Venezuela with alleged ties to Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal organization. According to federal officials, Moncada entered the U.S. in 2022 and was released into the country, later being arrested on charges including driving under the influence and unauthorized use of a vehicle. He reportedly has a final order of removal. Zambrano-Contreras is said to have entered in 2023 and allegedly participated in a prostitution ring linked to the group and was involved in a previous shooting in Portland, though independent confirmation of these claims is limited.
The incident has ignited local outrage. Hundreds of people gathered outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in South Portland on Thursday night, calling for accountability and an end to aggressive federal immigration enforcement in the city. Police arrested several protesters during the demonstrations.
State leaders have weighed in as well. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced a formal investigation into the use of force, saying his office will examine whether the agents acted within the scope of their lawful authority. Mayor Keith Wilson and other community leaders have criticized the shooting, demanding transparency and a halt to ICE operations in Portland until the facts are fully understood.
This shooting comes at a fraught time, just one day after a separate federal agent-involved shooting in Minneapolis, fueling national debate over immigration enforcement tactics and law enforcement use of force. The FBI is leading the probe in the Portland incident, and local authorities have stressed the need for calm as more details emerge.
