TikTok journalist shot by ICE, held over 300 days despite dismissed charges
Jun 2026·Location: Los Angeles, CA
Country of origin: Mexico

Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a 44-year-old Mexican immigrant from Puebla living in South Los Angeles, built a TikTok following of over 340,000 documenting ICE enforcement activity and received a Los Angeles City Council certificate of recognition for his community reporting. On October 21, 2025, federal agents attempting an immigration arrest boxed in his car near Santee High School; agents said he rammed their vehicles, and video showed 11 shots fired, striking Parias in the elbow and wounding a deputy U.S. marshal by ricochet. Councilmember Curren Price called him 'a pillar of our community, a fearless citizen journalist,' and his attorney described him as a hardworking, pacifist father of two U.S.-citizen children with no criminal record. He was charged with assault on a federal officer and property damage, then detained at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center; a federal judge later dismissed the indictment with prejudice, citing denial of counsel and missed evidence deadlines, but ICE returned him to custody afterward. After more than 300 days in detention, Parias' injured arm reportedly became discolored and atrophied without adequate treatment, with his congresswoman warning he may need amputation, and his attorney said he remains in pain.
Timeline
Sources
- Chaotic shooting of suspect and deputy U.S. marshal highlights increased aggression in ICE crackdowns
Los Angeles Times·Oct 22, 2025·archived copy
- US marshal and undocumented immigrant, a popular TikTok streamer, injured in shooting during ICE stop in Los Angeles
CNN·Oct 21, 2025·archived copy
- LA man shot by federal agents during arrest streams law enforcement activity on TikTok
Associated Press·Oct 22, 2025·archived copy
- The Feds Keep Prosecuting Protesters Against ICE — and Losing
The Intercept·Dec 31, 2025·archived copy
- CBS News
- Man shot in ICE confrontation was a 'respected and admired' citizen journalist with TikTok following
NBC News·Oct 23, 2025·archived copy
- Indictment dropped in case against TikToker shot by a federal agent in South L.A.
NBC News·Dec 29, 2025·archived copy
- Exclusive: Video Captures 11 Shots Fired During Shooting of ICE-Patrolling TikToker ~ L.A. TACO
lataco.com·Oct 25, 2025·archived copy
- ABC7 Los Angeles and Southern California | KABC Eyewitness News
- ICE agent fires on TikTok streamer Richart LA, ricochet bullet hits deputy marshal - The Times of India
- TikToker Richard LA, U.S. Marshal shot by ICE agent in South Los Angeles
- Judge tosses charges against TikTok streamer shot by federal agents in South LA
- He tracked and posted videos of ICE raids in L.A. Now this TikTok streamer is in federal custody
aol.com·Oct 23, 2025·archived copy
- TikToker arrested by federal agents while live streaming to thousands in downtown LA
abc7.com·Sep 2, 2025·archived copy
- union-bulletin.com
- TikTok influencer who livestreamed her own arrest ‘was targeted for monitoring ICE’
independent.co.uk·Sep 2, 2025·archived copy
- TikTok star Richard LA hit by bullet during ICE operation
independent.co.uk·Oct 22, 2025·archived copy
- Journalist's Detention In ICE Facility Sets A Record
thedissenter.org·Aug 24, 2026
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