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By Andrew Stanton and Gabe Whisnant
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Authorities are investigating a Wednesday morning crash in Los Angeles' Boyle Heights neighborhood as a possible assault with a deadly weapon involving federal agents who allegedly fled the scene, according to KABC.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told Newsweek that this was a "targeted arrest of a violent rioter."
Newsweek also reached out to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass' office via email for comment.
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The Context
Many details about the incident remained unreleased to the public as of Wednesday afternoon. Police have not confirmed which agency the involved agents represent or whether their presence in Los Angeles has anything to do with the ongoing protests over President Donald Trump's immigration policy.
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What To Know
The incident occurred around 10:47 a.m. local time in the 3700 block of Whittier Boulevard, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department told KABC. No serious injuries were reported.
Journalist Sean Beckner-Carmitchel posted footage to Bluesky earlier on Wednesday, showing two vehicles crashing into a white sedan in Boyle Heights. The footage appeared to show a confrontation between the agents and an individual in the car.
Beckner-Carmitchel said that the footage showed the driver detained at gunpoint, but that their wife said everyone in the vehicle was a United States citizen.
Witnesses told the news station that federal agents in an unmarked pickup truck and SUV, as well as a civilian vehicle, were involved in the crash. The vehicles departed the scene when a small crowd gathered on the sidewalk, the news station reported.
The LAPD and Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene, according to the news station.
Boyle Heights is a neighborhood located near downtown Los Angeles, where protests have taken place in recent days.
Trump has deployed California's National Guard to assist in quelling the violence, despite objections from Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, and other local officials who said bringing in the National Guard would only escalate the situation.
While the raids are following legal directives from federal authorities, protests have erupted amid reports that detainees were being held in the basement of a federal building. ICE denied these allegations, with a spokesperson telling Newsweek the agency "categorically refutes the assertions made by immigration activists in Los Angeles."
What People Are Saying
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek: "This was no hit and run. This was a targeted arrest of a violent rioter who punched a CBP officer. When Homeland Security Investigations tried to arrest Christian Damian Cerno-Camacho for the assault, he attempted to flee. He was ultimately arrested and taken into custody.
"Our officers are facing a 413% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murders, rapists, and gang members. Secretary Noem's message to the LA rioters is clear: you will not stop us or slow us down. ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Political commentator Brian Krassenstein, on X (formerly Twitter): "The Federal agents (Apparently ICE) left the scene of the accident shortly after the video was taken. The LAPD is now investigating it as a hit and run and possible assault with a deadly weapon. (An automobile)."
Democratic strategist Michael Trujillo wrote on X: "Want to know what will restart the protests is if this investigation turns out it was in fact a federal agent vehicle. Could be any department or not federal at all, but if what ABC and the LA Times bears fruit and federal agents are responsible for this, this will potentially explode again."
What Happens Next
The incident remains under investigation, according to the news station. More details could be released as the investigation advances.
Update 6/11/25, 5:05 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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