A pre-dawn traffic stop near Phoenix, Arizona, erupted into a shooting Wednesday morning, leaving both an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer and the driver of the vehicle injured. The incident unfolded just before 4 a.m. along Interstate 17, casting a shadow over the quiet hours before sunrise.
The driver, identified as Jose Garcia-Sorto, initially complied with the officers’ signal to stop. However, as the officers approached his vehicle, Garcia-Sorto unexpectedly began to drive away, placing an officer directly in the path of the moving car.
Reacting to the immediate threat, the officer discharged their weapon twice, striking Garcia-Sorto’s vehicle. The quick decision was made out of fear for their life, according to Department of Homeland Security officials.
Garcia-Sorto was swiftly transported to a local hospital and is currently listed in stable condition. The injured ICE officer was also taken to a hospital, but details regarding the extent of their injuries remain undisclosed.
News of the shooting reached Garcia-Sorto’s wife, Anahi, through local news reports. She described the agonizing wait for information, and the pain of knowing her husband hadn’t arrived home as expected.
Anahi revealed a heartbreaking detail: her husband was on his way to work, a daily routine that always ended with a loving embrace for their two children. The thought of that routine being shattered left her devastated.
Adding to her distress, Anahi claimed that law enforcement officials have been reluctant to share information about her husband’s condition or whereabouts. She alleges they are referring to him by a different name and restricting visits.
Despite acknowledging her family’s undocumented status, Anahi offered a surprising sentiment – a prayer for the ICE officers involved. She expressed a belief that judgment belongs to a higher power, and extended compassion even amidst her own hardship.
Facing the possibility of deportation, Anahi shared her heartbreaking plan to return to Honduras with her children should her husband be removed from the country. The future remains uncertain, clouded by fear and the weight of the unknown.
The northbound exit ramp at Dove Valley Road was temporarily closed during the investigation, causing traffic disruptions. It has since been reopened as authorities continue to piece together the events of that early morning.
The FBI is currently leading the investigation into the shooting, meticulously examining the circumstances surrounding the incident and seeking a complete understanding of what transpired.
