ICE Operation Spurs Manhunt After Vehicle Attack

During a targeted ICE operation near Colorado Springs, Colorado, two suspects allegedly tried to ram their vehicle into ICE officers, prompting an officer to fire shots at the fleeing vehicle. The passenger, Francisco Zapata-Pacheco, was arrested and is cooperating, while the driver, Jose Mendez-Chavez—a Mexican national with multiple prior deportations and convictions for child abuse and domestic violence—remains at large. The incident led to road closures and a shelter-in-place order in the Black Forest area as local and federal agencies, including the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and FBI, responded. ICE reported an 830% increase in assaults on its officers and criticized local advocacy groups for supporting suspects with violent criminal histories. No injuries were reported, and the suspect vehicle was later found abandoned. Questions have arisen regarding ICE's communication, as the public was notified of the arrest and shelter-in-place order several hours after the arrest took place.