In Bellevue, Nebraska, a dramatic confrontation unfolded when Gabriel Hurtado-Cariaco, a Venezuelan national living in the U.S. without authorization, was charged with the attempted murder of a federal officer. This incident, which escalated during an attempt to execute an active immigration-related warrant, occurred on June 20, 2025, as announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods.
Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI located Hurtado-Cariaco near his Sarpy County residence. When agents signaled him to stop his vehicle, he initially complied, stepping out with his arms raised. Yet, the situation rapidly deteriorated when Hurtado-Cariaco resisted arrest, leading to a physical altercation with one of the agents. The struggle resulted in the agent suffering injuries after being thrown onto the pavement. A second agent intervened but was also pulled into the violent encounter, during which Hurtado-Cariaco applied a chokehold to the first agent, ignoring commands to cease his assault.
The second agent managed to free his colleague by applying a chokehold on Hurtado-Cariaco, who subsequently fled on foot but was later apprehended at his apartment without further resistance. The injured agent required hospitalization for the injuries sustained.
In the aftermath, Attorney General Bondi underscored the Department of Justice's stance against any form of deadly violence directed at law enforcement officers. Deputy Attorney General Blanche pointed to the arrest of Hurtado-Cariaco, suspected to be a member of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang, as a testament to the department's dedication to officer protection. U.S. Attorney Woods commended the agents for their professionalism under duress.
Hurtado-Cariaco's appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge resulted in his detention and the setting of hearings. While the complaint charges him, it does not determine his guilt, and he remains presumed innocent until proven guilty. Conviction could lead to imprisonment, financial penalties, and supervised release.
The investigation, spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations, is ongoing. The Department of Justice's tweet amplifies the gravity of the charges and the commitment to justice for federal officers.
