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TikTok journalist shot by ICE, held over 300 days despite dismissed charges

Jun 2026·Location: Los Angeles, CA

Country of origin: Mexico

TikTok journalist shot by ICE, held over 300 days despite dismissed charges
Photo via lataco.com

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

Jun 1, 2026—After over 300 days in detention, reports emerged that his untreated arm injury had worsened, with warnings he may need amputation
Dec 2, 2025—ICE took Parias back into custody despite the dismissal and returned him to Adelanto detention
Dec 1, 2025—Federal judge dismissed the indictment with prejudice, citing denial of counsel and prosecutors' missed evidence deadlines
Oct 21, 2025—Shot in the elbow by federal agents during an attempted immigration arrest near Santee High School while documenting ICE activity
Oct 21, 2025—Charged with assault on a federal officer and property damage, later detained at Adelanto ICE Processing Center
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