Man Killed Fleeing ICE Agents in Florida: Third Death in a Week
Man Killed Fleeing ICE Agents in Florida: Third Death in a Week
Tragedy strikes again! A man fleeing ICE agents in St. Augustine, Florida, was fatally hit by a semi-truck. This marks the third death in a week linked to ICE encounters. Get the full story.
A somber incident unfolded in St. Augustine, Florida, on Tuesday morning when a 28-year-old man, reportedly fleeing federal immigration agents, was tragically struck and killed by a tractor-trailer. This marks a disturbing trend, as it is the third death in just about a week stemming from encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, following earlier shootings in Texas and Maine.
The incident occurred before 7 a.m. at a gas station and convenience store. The man was one of four individuals in a vehicle that had stopped there. During an encounter with agents from ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), all four occupants fled on foot. The victim, attempting to escape, ran across a busy road and directly into the path of an oncoming semi-truck. Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Dylan Bryan confirmed that the truck driver immediately stopped and tried to render aid.
This recent fatality also highlights a broader pattern, being at least the tenth death linked to encounters with immigration agents since President Donald Trump initiated his mass deportation campaign last year. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed an operation took place and stated that the Florida Highway Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations are "investigating an incident resulting in the death of a Mexican national." However, inquiries about the status of the other three occupants were not immediately answered.
The tragedy has drawn sharp criticism. State Representative Angie Nixon, a Democrat from Jacksonville, labeled the death a direct consequence of what she called an "out-of-control agency." She voiced deep concern, stating, "Whether it’s ICE agents gunning down a father in the streets of Houston, shooting a young man in Maine or conducting operations right here in Northeast Florida that result in a deadly crash, the outcome is the same: fear, chaos and death." Past incidents also include at least two other cases where individuals died after being hit by vehicles while fleeing immigration officers.
