Franklin Park ICE shooting: Illinois officials demand release of video in deadly officer shooting of Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez
An Illinois congressman is among those who are calling for all video of the deadly shooting involving an ICE officer in the west suburbs to be released by federal officials.
The shooting happened in Franklin Park on Friday.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson said its officers were conducting "targeted law enforcement activity," and during a vehicle stop, a man, who ICE says was a suspect, resisted arrest and tried to drive his car into the arrest team.
The man struck an officer, dragging him as he tried to flee the scene, ICE said. The officer shot the man, who was later identified as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez. The Department of Homeland Security described him as an undocumented immigrant with a criminal history of reckless driving.
ICE said the man was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The officer suffered severe injuries and is stable, ICE and DHS said.
Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García says all video of the incident should be released.
"We want to know everything about what occurred and for all evidence to be put forward publicly so the public can make its own conclusions, but this was totally preventable, unnecessary and most tragic," García said.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has also called for transparency in the investigation into the shooting.
ABC7 reached out to ICE for comment and to see if the officers involved were wearing cameras, but has not yet heard back yet.
The family of Villegas-Gonzalez told ABC7 he was a father from Mexico, working at a restaurant in the Portage Park area, and has been in the United States for decades. His shooting death is sparking outrage.
This deadly encounter came as ICE operations have ramped in the Chicago area within the last few weeks. Around 300 ICE agents are stationed just north of city.
To the man's girlfriend and stepdaughter, Villegas-Gonzalez was a working 38-year-old father of three from Mexico who's lived in the United States for more than 20 years.
Cellphone video obtained by ABC 7 showed the moment with ICE officers removed the man from his crashed car near Grand and Elder Lane.
"He got a hole on his head and bleeding, so both men, they tried to help and cover with a band-aid, his neck," witness Victoria Connolly said.
Congressman García spoke at the scene Friday with other politicians, shortly after flying from the nation's capital.
"Look, without a doubt, there's massive racial, ethnic profiling that's taking place and it's shameful," García said.
Governor Pritzker posted a statement to X Friday, saying, "I am aware of the troubling incident that has unfolded in Franklin Park. This is a developing situation and the people of Illinois deserve a full, factual accounting of what's happened today to ensure transparency and accountability."
