(LARGO, MARYLAND) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents fired at a vehicle during a traffic stop in Prince George’s County, Maryland, injuring two people as the agency’s nationwide Operation At Large crackdown continued into its fourth week.
Jose Ramirez, 34, suffered a gunshot wound to the left shoulder and was listed in stable condition at University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center. Maria Gonzalez, 29, Ramirez’s sister and a passenger, was injured by shattered glass in her right arm and was treated and released by December 24 evening.
Where and when it happened
ICE said the shooting occurred around 2:15 PM Eastern Time near the intersection of Cipriano Road and Lottsford Road in Largo. Prince George’s County Fire/EMS medevaced the pair after they surrendered, according to a verified timeline in the incident reports.
ICE released body camera footage on December 24 that it said shows the vehicle accelerating from 5 mph to 25 mph toward two agents before shots were fired. The agency said four rounds were fired in total.
Victims and status
- Jose Ramirez, 34 — gunshot wound to left shoulder; listed in stable condition at University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center.
- Maria Gonzalez, 29 — injured by shattered glass to right arm; treated and released by December 24 evening.
- Gonzalez’s immigration status was not confirmed in the information provided, though she was reported to have DACA, with that status described as pending confirmation.
Verified timeline of events
| Time (Eastern) | Event |
|---|---|
| ~2:10 PM | ICE ERO team led by Supervisory Deportation Officer Marcus Hale identified the vehicle using Automated License Plate Reader data matching Ramirez’s last known associate. |
| 2:13 PM | Agents activated lights and sirens on unmarked vehicles; the driver fled. |
| 2:15 PM | The vehicle stopped briefly and agents approached on foot. |
| 2:15 PM | The driver revved the engine and lurched forward, striking the hood of an ICE SUV and momentarily pinning Agent Kayla Torres. |
| 2:15:32 PM | Agents Robert Kline and Kayla Torres fired; the vehicle crashed into a guardrail about 50 yards away. |
ICE said the vehicle was a black 2018 Honda Civic linked to Ramirez. ICE acting director Todd Lyons said Ramirez had three prior removals to Mexico (listed as 2018, 2020 and 2022) and was wanted for re-entry after deportation under 8 U.S.C. § 1326.
Agency account and evidence
ICE framed the shooting as a response to a vehicle that accelerated toward agents. In a December 23 press release, Lyons said agents from the Enforcement and Removal Operations Baltimore Field Office tried to stop the Honda Civic linked to Ramirez. He said:
“The driver accelerated toward agents, prompting them to fire in defense of life. This is the reality of enforcing laws against those who flout them,”
ICE also released body camera footage on December 24 that it said shows the vehicle accelerating toward two agents before shots were fired, with four rounds fired overall.
Local and national reactions
- Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks called the shooting “excessive” in a December 24 statement.
- Carolyn Murphy, executive director of ACLU Maryland, criticized the use of gunfire during the stop, saying:
> “Firing into a vehicle with civilians endangers communities—ICE must de-escalate” (said on December 24). - Tom Homan, FAIR president and incoming ICE director, defended the agents’ actions:
> “Agents followed protocol; fleeing felons get no pass.”
(reported alongside the incident)
These statements framed the immediate debate: whether firing into a vehicle with civilians present could be justified, and whether ICE should be required to de-escalate in such situations.
Operation At Large context and agency statistics
Operation At Large launched on December 1, 2025, under the second Trump administration. ICE reported the following as of December 24:
| Metric | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Arrests nationwide | 2,847 arrests |
| Removals executed | 748 removals |
| Percentage with convictions (per ICE) | 85% |
ICE said the operation targeted criminal noncitizens. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem described the operation’s aims in a December 20 post on X, writing:
“Operation At Large prioritizes public safety threats—1,200+ with violent felonies removed already,”
The Largo shooting was the third use-of-force incident ICE reported during Operation At Large. Other reported incidents include:
– A non-fatal shooting in Phoenix, AZ on December 5, 2025, with one injured.
– A tasing in Dallas, TX on December 18, 2025, with no injuries.
Investigations and legal status
- Prince George’s County Police and the FBI opened a joint investigation on December 23.
- As of December 25 morning, no charges against the agents had been announced.
- The investigation has not publicly assigned fault for the moments leading to the gunfire; local and federal authorities are reviewing the stop in parallel with ICE’s release of body camera footage.
Key points and context
- ICE’s account emphasizes an imminent threat to agents, noting the vehicle struck the hood of an ICE SUV and pinned Agent Kayla Torres before shots were fired.
- Local officials and civil-rights advocates have questioned the decision to use lethal force when civilians were in the vehicle, urging de-escalation measures.
- ICE and its defenders have pointed to protocol and the operation’s broader focus on apprehending noncitizens with prior deportations or criminal convictions.
“Firing into a vehicle with civilians endangers communities—ICE must de-escalate,” Carolyn Murphy said.
The traffic stop, brief flight, and final confrontation near Cipriano Road and Lottsford Road have become a flashpoint in Prince George’s County as investigators assess the agents’ decision to shoot.
ICE agents shot two people in Largo, Maryland, during a high-stakes traffic stop linked to ‘Operation At Large.’ The agency released bodycam footage showing the vehicle accelerating toward officers. The driver, Jose Ramirez, is a Mexican national with multiple deportations. While federal officials defend the agents’ actions, local leaders and civil rights groups have raised concerns regarding the use of lethal force in residential areas.
