U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents fired their weapons during an enforcement operation in San Bernardino on Saturday after a man allegedly struck two officers with his vehicle, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Officials stated that the shots were fired as the vehicle fled the scene, but no one inside the truck was hit. DHS confirmed that two officers were injured by the vehicle, though the extent of their injuries has not been disclosed.

The incident began around 9:00 a.m. when plainclothes agents in unmarked vehicles surrounded a pickup truck occupied by three men. Video captured inside the truck shows agents in tactical gear, some wearing vests marked “POLICE” and one with a cap labeled “CBP.” Agents ordered the men to roll down their windows before breaking them when the men refused. Moments later, the truck accelerated away, and gunfire can be heard on the recording.

Family members inside the vehicle said they drove off because they feared for their safety, claiming the agents did not initially identify themselves. The driver, a 43-year-old Mexican national who has lived in the United States for more than two decades, was accompanied by his U.S. citizen son and son-in-law. The son later said they believed masked men were attacking them and that they fled out of fear.

Roughly an hour later, federal agents and San Bernardino police surrounded the family’s home. Advocacy groups criticized the operation, saying agents never produced a warrant and placed the household in fear while demanding the men come outside. Local police confirmed that one individual was briefly detained and released. Officers cited California’s sanctuary laws, which restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, as the reason they did not assist further.

Later that day, San Bernardino police returned after a large crowd gathered while federal agents attempted to make an arrest. Authorities said the man targeted was wanted for assaulting a federal officer, but it remains unclear whether he was ultimately taken into custody.

Incidents like this illustrate how quickly accidents and injuries can happen, leaving families and individuals facing uncertainty and potential harm. At Lerner, Moore, Silva, Cunningham & Rubel, our attorneys help clients throughout Southern California seek guidance and pursue compensation for injuries. Call 909-889-1131 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. With offices in Ontario and Victorville, we proudly serve clients across San Bernardino County, Ontario, Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Colton, and Riverside County.