Honduran man wounded during shooting involving ICE on Phoenix freeway

PHOENIX – A Honduran man was wounded during a shooting incident involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in north Phoenix on Wednesday morning, authorities said.

ICE officers initiated a traffic stop on Jose Garcia-Sorto on northbound Interstate 17 near Dove Valley Road around 4 a.m., according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Garcia-Sorto, who DHS said is in the U.S. illegally, initially stopped. But he then allegedly started to drive away while an officer was in the path of his vehicle.

The officer feared for his life and shot at the vehicle twice, DHS said.

Suspect, ICE officer hospitalized after shooting incident

Afterward, Garcia-Sorto was taken to a hospital to be treated for an unspecified injury. DHS said he was listed in stable condition.

Meanwhile, the ICE officer who fired his gun was taken to a hospital to be evaluated.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety responded to the scene to assist federal authorities. The incident disrupted morning traffic on northbound I-17, with the Dove Valley Road off-ramp closing for several hours.

The FBI Phoenix office has opened an assault on a federal officer case and will refer its findings to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona for a charging decision.

No other details about the shooting incident were made available.

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