PORTLAND, Ore. — A man shot by a Border Patrol agent during an immigration stop last week has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated assault on a federal employee and damaging federal property. The plea from Luis David Nino-Moncada was entered on his behalf by his public defender during a hearing in U.S. District Court.
Nino-Moncada, who remains in custody, saw his release hearing scheduled for next week, while a jury trial is set for March. The incident has stirred significant public backlash, prompting protests against the aggressive tactics employed by federal agents in immigration enforcement operations.
The shooting occurred in a medical parking lot where Nino-Moncada and his passenger, Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, were purportedly affiliated with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. While there was no surveillance video of the incident, the FBI reported that agents opened fire when Nino-Moncada allegedly reversed the truck into a rented car, damaging it. Federal agents claimed they feared for their safety.
Details from the investigation reveal that Zambrano-Contreras had a prior arrest for prostitution and had been under police scrutiny related to a gang activity investigation. As the legal proceedings progress, this case underscores the contentious debate surrounding immigration enforcement practices and the resultant community implications.
