Federal agents working for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement department got into a vicious street brawl on Thursday in New York City.
ICE agents were trying to apprehend construction worker Gaspar Avendano-Hernandez, 33. They had deported him to Mexico twice before. A fight escalated until an agent shot one of Avendano-Hernadnez’s girlfriend’s sons in the face.
Avendano-Hernandez was heading into his Brooklyn apartment around 8:15 AM to grab something he forgot on his way to work. As he did, ICE agents with a search warrant swooped in, pushing their way into his home.
Avendano-Hernandez lives with his girlfriend and two of her sons: Kevin Yanez-Cruz (19) and Eric Diaz (26). Both were present when the ICE agents attempted to arrest Avendano-Hernandez.
ICE agents insist that Avendano-Hernandez and Yanez-Cruz attacked them, starting the brawl. Eric rushed outside to their aid. During the scuffle, federal agents tasered both of the sons.
According to Yanez-Cruz, after he and his brother were tased, a federal agent pointed his gun directly at Eric Diaz’s face and fired. The bullet tore through the man’s hand and into his face and head.
“He didn’t even think twice. He just shot him,” Yanez-Cruz stated. “[Eric] had no weapons in his hand. Nothing.”
Diaz stumbled to the ground, blood rushing from his wound, unable to say anything as he collapsed. He is in stable but critical condition at Maimonides Hospital. Two federal agents are also receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the brawl.
In the ensuing chaos of the brawl, Avendano-Hernandez retreated into his apartment where he barricaded himself. He later gave up and submitted to arrest, and is expected to be deported by ICE.
ICE has deported Avendano-Hernandez twice before. They found him again in New York after he was pulled over for driving with forged Connecticut plates.
Yanez-Cruz says that Avendano-Hernandez planned to get legal plates on Friday to avoid re-arrest by the police.
