Federal law enforcement officials have launched a manhunt in Chicago after immigration agents came under fire in what authorities describe as a series of coordinated attacks by suspected members of the Latin Kings gang.
The shootings, which occurred Saturday in the city’s Little Village neighborhood, left several vehicles damaged and led to the arrest of nine individuals as unrest spread across several city blocks.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), agents were ambushed in four separate incidents believed to be linked to a bounty the Latin Kings allegedly placed on federal officers involved in “Operation Midway Blitz,” a law enforcement initiative targeting gang activity and illegal trafficking in the region.
The violence began when agents attempting to make an arrest were trapped between a street and an alley. A man driving a black Jeep opened fire before fleeing the scene, officials said.
As agents tried to regroup, crowds escalated the confrontation—throwing bricks and paint cans from rooftops. In response, agents deployed a flash-bang device to disperse the attackers as Chicago police arrived to assist in the evacuation.
The situation quickly spiraled into chaos, spreading across several blocks. Demonstrators attempted to breach the perimeter of a nearby FBI facility, blocked roads, and rammed agents’ vehicles in four separate incidents.
DHS confirmed that over three hours, nine individuals—eight U.S. citizens and one non-citizen—were arrested on charges ranging from assault to obstruction. The suspected gunman, however, remains at large.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the violence and placed the blame squarely on what she called the permissive and anti-police environment fostered by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both Democrats.
“J.B. Pritzker and Brandon Johnson have fueled an environment of lawlessness and assault on federal law enforcement,” McLaughlin said in a statement. “Make no mistake: Our mission will continue despite the violence.”
McLaughlin described the attacks as “unprecedented,” arguing that years of anti-police rhetoric have emboldened criminals and weakened public support for law enforcement. She warned that anyone who targets federal officers will face “serious and immediate consequences.”
The clashes in Little Village highlight the broader tensions between federal and local authorities in Chicago, a city that has seen persistent violence and a surge in gang-related crime. Federal officials have long accused local leaders of undermining enforcement efforts through policies that limit cooperation with immigration authorities and restrict police powers.
Operation Midway Blitz, the focus of the Latin Kings’ alleged threats, has aimed to disrupt gang networks linked to narcotics and weapons trafficking throughout the Midwest. Federal officials said Saturday’s attacks will not halt the operation, though they acknowledged that the hostility toward agents has reached a dangerous new level.
“This was a targeted assault on those sworn to protect the public,” a DHS official said. “We will not be deterred.”
As of Monday, federal agents continue to search for the gunman and others involved in the attacks, while DHS has vowed to increase its presence in Chicago. The incident, officials said, serves as a reminder of the growing risks facing law enforcement in cities where political leadership has prioritized rhetoric over public safety.
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