This story has been updated with additional reporting. 

Updated: 8:30 pm January 9; Originally published: 3:56 pm January 8

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified the man and woman shot Thursday by a US Border Patrol agent. According to DHS, Luis David Nino-Moncada was driving the vehicle that agents tried to conduct a traffic stop on. Nino-Moncada and his passenger, Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, were both shot and injured during the traffic stop.

According to the federal agency, Nino-Moncada was hit in the arm and Zambrano-Contreras was hit in the chest. The Mercury has not independently verified the victims' injuries, but local police have said the victims are in "stable" condition.

Sources close to the families of both victims confirmed that both are currently alive, but their families have had very limited contact with them and haven't been given much information about the situation or status of their loved ones. 

DHS claims Nino-Moncada entered the US in 2022 and Zambrano-Contreras entered in 2023. 

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield says his office will open a formal investigation into the shooting that took place in East Portland Thursday afternoon. 

According to the Portland Police Bureau, the shooting occurred at 2:18 pm near the Adventist Health Primary Care Portland campus on Southeast Main Street just east of I-205, but the victims were found at 146th and East Burnside minutes later.

The condition of the victims and severity of their injuries is unknown. Both were taken to area hospitals for immediate care following the incident. 

Rayfield’s office said the investigation will examine whether any federal officers involved in Thursday’s incident acted outside the scope of their legal authority. 

“We have been clear about our concerns with excessive use of force by federal agents in Portland and nationally,” Rayfield stated in an announcement Thursday evening. “We have also been clear about our intent to investigate circumstances involving federal agents to ensure they are accountable to acting within the scope of their official duties. Today’s incident only heightens the need for transparency and accountability. Our office will take every step necessary to ensure that the rights and security of Oregonians are protected.”

Rayfield says he’ll review “witness interviews, video evidence, and other relevant materials” and any evidence of criminal conduct will be referred to the Multnomah County District Attorney for potential prosecution. 

DHS later stated in a social media post that US Border Patrol agents were conducting a “targeted traffic stop” in East Portland, claiming that the driver of the vehicle was a "Venezuelan illegal alien affiliated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring and involved in a recent shooting in Portland." 

The post went on to say that after the agent identified himself, the driver "weaponized the vehicle" and allegedly attempted to run over the law enforcement agents, leading the agent to "fire defensive shots" before leaving the scene. 

The shooting in Portland occurred the day after a DHS agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on Wednesday as she was pulling away from agents in her vehicle. DHS officials made a similar claim of self-defense in that case, though after witnessing video footage of the incident, Minnesota officials are contradicting the account put forth by the Trump administration.

"We are still in the early stages of this incident," Portland Police Chief Bob Day said shortly after Thursday's shooting. "We understand the heightened emotion and tension many are feeling in the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more."

Later that evening, Day said he couldn't confirm whether either of the victims had been involved in any prior shootings in Portland, noting the identity of the man and woman hadn't been released yet. He confirmed that the FBI is leading an investigation into the shooting. Day initially said PPB had no active role in the investigation, but the following day, the police chief said PPB was "currently involved" in the investigation with federal agencies.

“On our end, we do not know the facts of this case,” Chief Day told reporters Thursday evening. “We are simply providing that traditional investigative support and perimeter support, which is minimal.”

Day acknowledged Portland’s strained relationship with federal police and the US Department of Justice over the past year, particularly as the city and state launched a successful legal fight to prevent deployment of National Guard troops to the city.

The police chief said the city has “certainly been tested.”

“This is no small circumstance,” Day said. “The uncertainty and the fear and the sadness within our community is real…”

He noted PPB has had "lines of communication" with the FBI, but it's unclear whether the federal agency will keep local police updated on the investigation, as it progresses.

The incident happened during a Portland City Council meeting and caused the Council to abruptly recess the meeting as several councilors were immediately pulled into a briefing with police.

Oregon and Minnesota officials to DHS: “Get out!”

Thursday’s shooting in Portland comes just one day after the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis by ICE agents, prompting nationwide protests. Good was shot while attempting to drive away from a group of immigration agents who say they acted in self-defense. Footage from the scene contradicts the ICE officers’ allegations that Good posed a threat. The shooting took place on Portland Avenue in Minneapolis, initially prompting confusion when reports of the Portland shooting began circulating on social media Thursday afternoon.

Later that evening, hundreds of people gathered outside of Portland City Hall for a vigil acknowledging victims of violence from federal agents. Nearby, several local elected officials and community leaders held a press conference at the downtown Portland police precinct. They spoke about the need for unity and collective resistance to the Trump administration and DHS's violent tactics.

State Rep. Andrea Valderrama (D—Portland), whose district includes the Hazelwood neighborhood where the shooting occurred, said she's "horrified" by the violence that happened not far from her house.

She likened it to the violence in Peru that her family sought to escape.

"My family came to this country fleeing really the same type of violent tactics that we're seeing in my neighborhood and in this city and across this country today," Valderrama told reporters. She said she dreads the conversations she has to have with her daughter about violence.

"Everyone's families and mothers and children deserve to stay together," she added.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said he spoke to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, noting the two shared their concerns and grief for the families of the shooting victims. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said she's been in contact with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

In a statement issued shortly after the shooting in Portland, Mayor Wilson called on ICE to end all operations in Portland until a full investigation can be completed.

“We cannot sit by while constitutional protections erode and bloodshed mounts,” Wilson said. “Portland is not a ‘training ground’ for militarized agents, and the ‘full force’ threatened by the administration has deadly consequences."

Wilson said he'll "use every legal and legislative tool available to protect our residents' civil and human rights.”

Councilors Candace Avalos, Jamie Dunphy, and Loretta Smith, who represent East Portland on City Council, said in a joint statement that "ICE in our communities does not make us safe," adding "that as your East Portland councilors, we have stood united to protect Portlanders from aggressive immigration enforcement and federal overreach and we will continue to do everything in our power to keep our communities safe."

This story will be updated.

Note: This story has been corrected to reflect the spelling of one of the victim's last names that was initially misspelled by DHS.