Girlfriend, stepdaughter of suspect killed by ICE officer in Chicago area speak out

FRANKLIN PARK, Ill. - A suspect was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Friday morning in west suburban Franklin Park, officials said.

What we know:

According to ICE, officers were conducting "targeted law enforcement activity" and stopped a vehicle at 25th Avenue and Grand Avenue.

ICE said the suspect resisted and tried to drive into officers, striking one and dragging him while attempting to flee. The officer, "fearing for his life," fired his weapon, hitting the suspect.

Surveillance footage at a nearby auto repair shop captures what's purported to be the car driven by Gonzalez in traffic next to a truck. Seconds later, off camera, gunshots are heard. Onlooker video minutes after the incident captures the car lodged underneath the truck.

Both the suspect and the injured officer received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to a hospital. The suspect died at the hospital.

The officer, who suffered severe injuries, is listed in stable condition.

Suspect Identified :

The Dept. of Homeland Security identified the suspect as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez and said he has a history of reckless driving. 

"He entered the country at an unknown date and time," the agency said. 

What they're saying:

In a statement, an ICE spokesperson said, "Viral social media videos and activists encouraging illegal aliens to resist law enforcement not only spread misinformation, but also undermine public safety, the safety of our officers and those being apprehended."

An auto shop worker who was in the area where the traffic stop incident occurred spoke with FOX 32, recounting what he saw.

"I was here just doing the usual things I always do when all of a sudden, my boss comes out, ‘Hey, something happened.’ And that's when I go out and I see a large police presence, military presence, I even saw a guy with a FBI jacket and like, you only see those at the movies," the man said. "…I thought this was just a regular car crash, because car crash happens here multiple times."

Amid reports of increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the Chicago area, he said he was concerned officers might arrive in Franklin Park.

"Franklin Park is heavily Latino, so yes, my fear was that ICE would be coming here to Franklin Park," he said. "…I do have family members and friends that are scared of ICE coming into their home and breaking their family apart, causing financial trouble and stuff like that." 

After learning the suspect involved was killed, he called the incident "a tragedy."

"I think any life that has been taken away, it's a tragedy, no matter race, gender or their personal beliefs, a life is a life."

Gov. JB Pritzker issued a statement on the incident as well, shared below:

"I am aware of the troubling incident that has unfolded in Franklin Park. This is a developing situation and the people of Illinois deserve a full, factual accounting of what’s happened today to ensure transparency and accountability," Gov. Pritzker said. 

Sen. Tammy Duckworth said she is "deeply disturbed" by what unfolded in Franklin Park: 

"I am deeply disturbed by and closely monitoring the truly awful incident that occurred in Franklin Park today. As the situation develops, our community deserves the full, unvarnished details of what happened," Sen. Duckworth said. 

"I am calling for a full investigation of what led to this fatal shooting. I want, I want I'm calling for all of the videotapes and all of the evidence that exists to be released and for all the facts to be made public," Representative Jesús "Chuy" García said.

"The blood that was spilled today will be a stain on the history of our nation, a stain on our Constitution, which protects us and says that we have rights, that we have the right to be in front of a judge, and that we are innocent until proven guilty," State Sen. Karina Villa said.

DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin blames activist groups, saying "Viral social media videos and activists encouraging illegal aliens to resist law enforcement not only spread misinformation, but also undermine public safety, as well as the safety of our officers and those being apprehended."

From the family:

Gonzalez's girlfriend Blanca Mora struggles to find answers this evening. Her daughter Ruby Esquivel says she believes the interaction happened after Gonzalez dropped the youngest of his two children off to daycare on Grand Avenue.

"I feel kind of sad since he was like a father figure to me and like he was mostly there," Esquivel said. "He respected us and it just kind of caught me off guard because I didn't know what to do. I was just speechless."

Esquivel said Gonzalez wasn't asking for any trouble.
"He's a nice guy, and he respects people. He doesn't get in problems," she said. "And everything he does is what he can do, because since he is also sick, like from a liver problem."

Village Issues Statement:

The Village of Franklin Park issued a statement Friday afternoon, shared below: 

"This morning a man was shot and killed in Franklin Park as an ICE agent was attempting to conduct a vehicle stop. The suspect was taken to Loyola Hospital and was pronounced dead. The ICE agent suffered injuries as he was dragged by the vehicle that was attempting to flee.

"The Franklin Park Police Department was on the scene after the incident to back up paramedics and control traffic. The Franklin Park Fire Department was also on the scene and our paramedics transported both the suspect and the agent to area hospitals.

"The Departments have no other roles in this incident. The FBI Chicago Field Office is in charge of this ongoing investigation and all inquiries should be directed to their office at 312-421-6700.

"This was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to the community."

What's next:

No further information was immediately available. The investigation remains ongoing.