Gov. JB Pritzker called for transparency after a federal immigration agent fatally shot a man in northwest suburban Franklin Park after the agency reported the man tried to flee a traffic stop and struck the officer with his vehicle.
The man who was killed was identified by the Department of Homeland Security as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, 38. DHS said in a written statement that Villegas-Gonzalez is a citizen of Mexico and was in the U.S. illegally, though further details were not provided.
Pritzker on Friday afternoon said in a social media post he was “aware of the troubling incident that has unfolded in Franklin Park,” without providing further details.
“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,” Pritzker said.
According to DHS, officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a vehicle stop Friday morning to arrest Villegas-Gonzalez, who has a record of reckless driving offenses.
Villegas-Gonzalez “refused to follow law enforcements commands and drove his car” at officers, striking one of the ICE agents and dragging him “a significant distance,” the DHS statement said. “Fearing for his life, the officer discharged his firearm and struck the subject.”
Both the agents and Villegas-Gonzalez were taken to a nearby hospital, where Villegas-Gonzalez was pronounced dead, authorities said. The officer sustained “severe injuries,” but his condition was later stabilized, the statement said.
“We are praying for the speedy recovery of our law enforcement officer. He followed his training, used appropriate force, and properly enforced the law to protect the public and law enforcement,” DHS Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said. “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.”
Social media reports showed parts of Grand Avenue closed in the suburb.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed it had been notified of the death, but was withholding further information Friday afternoon pending notification of kin.
Franklin Park police referred questions about the incident to federal authorities.
The FBI confirmed that agents were at the scene assisting law enforcement in the investigation. “There is no threat to public safety or further information available at this time,” the FBI said in a statement.
