OSINT Report: Carlitos Ricardo Parias ("Richard LA") - ICE Shooting of Citizen Journalist¶

Date of Research: February 5, 2026 (enriched February 12, 2026)
Published by: Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Subject: Carlitos Ricardo Parias - Shot by ICE Agent During Immigration Enforcement Stop
Type: officer-involved-shooting
Confidence: HIGH

PRIVATE CONTRACTOR: GEO GROUP

Facility operated by GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE: GEO) — the largest for-profit prison corporation in the world. GEO Group operates Adelanto ICE Processing Center, receiving ~$112/day per detainee. See Infrastructure for full contractor profiles.

Executive Summary¶

On October 21, 2025, at approximately 8:52 a.m., Carlitos Ricardo Parias -- a 44-year-old Mexican national from Puebla, father of two, construction worker, and widely followed citizen journalist known as "Richard LA" on TikTok with over 340,000 combined followers -- was shot in the elbow by an ICE agent during an immigration enforcement traffic stop on the 400 block of East 20th Street in South Los Angeles. A deputy U.S. Marshal was also wounded in the hand by a ricochet bullet. The ICE agent fired a total of 11 rounds at Parias's Toyota Camry. The shooting occurred directly adjacent to the Santee Education Complex, which was forced into lockdown at 9:03 a.m. with students inside.

The Department of Homeland Security immediately characterized Parias as having "weaponized his vehicle" by ramming law enforcement vehicles. However, body camera footage released weeks later told a starkly different story: the video shows an ICE agent smashing Parias's passenger window while simultaneously drawing his firearm, with Parias's car appearing stationary at the time shots were fired. The footage directly contradicted the government's public narrative that agents fired "defensive shots" in response to vehicular assault.

Parias was indicted on November 6, 2025 by a federal grand jury on charges of assault on a federal officer using a deadly or dangerous weapon and depredation of government property. He pleaded not guilty. On December 27, 2025, U.S. District Judge Fernando M. Olguin dismissed the indictment with prejudice in a 28-page ruling, finding that the government violated Parias's constitutional rights through systematic denial of access to counsel and failure to comply with court-ordered discovery deadlines, including timely release of body camera footage. Despite this permanent dismissal of criminal charges, Parias remains in ICE detention at the GEO Group-operated Adelanto ICE Processing Center, facing deportation proceedings under a 2018 administrative removal order. He has undergone multiple surgeries for a permanent elbow injury sustained in the shooting.

1. VICTIM PROFILE¶

Carlitos Ricardo Parias ("Richard LA")¶

Personal Information:
- Full Name: Carlitos Ricardo Parias
- Age: 44 years old (at time of shooting)
- Nationality: Mexico
- Place of Origin: Puebla, Mexico
- Immigration Status: Undocumented; subject to 2018 administrative removal order
- Residence: South Los Angeles, California (lived in the area for decades)
- Occupation: Construction worker
- Family: Father of two children
- Vehicle: Toyota Camry (described as "full of tools" from construction work)

Rise as Citizen Journalist:
- First TikTok video posted: August 21, 2024, showing an accident at 27th and San Pedro streets in LA
- Initially covered neighborhood events -- accidents, crime scenes, community happenings
- Grew audience rapidly after focusing camera on ICE raids beginning in 2025
- Style: calm narration in Spanish, non-confrontational approach
- According to associates, Parias would "steer clear of interfering with law enforcement or engaging in confrontations of any kind"
- Multiple videos exceeded 50,000 views during peak ICE enforcement coverage

Social Media Presence:
- TikTok handle: "Richard LA"
- Combined followers across two accounts: 340,000+
- Content: Spanish-language videos documenting police and ICE enforcement activities across Los Angeles
- Described by community members and officials as a "citizen journalist" and "fearless" reporter

Community Recognition:
- August 15, 2025: Received Certificate of Recognition from Los Angeles City Council District 9, presented by Jose Ugarte (deputy chief of staff to Councilmember Curren Price Jr.)
- Certificate text: "We present this certificate of recognition to Richard LA in honor of your unwavering commitment to keeping the South Los Angeles community informed, empowered and protected"
- Councilmember Price's office called him a "pillar of our community" and a "fearless citizen journalist" whose storytelling "uplifted the unheard voices of South Central Los Angeles"
- Angelina Dumarot (spokesperson for Councilmember Price): "He has risen to become this very credible, respected and admired citizen journalist"

Immigration History:
- Entered the United States at unknown date and location (per DHS)
- Subject to a 2018 administrative removal order that remains active
- DHS stated Parias "has a history of driving without a license, failing to prove financial responsibility, vehicle code violations, and resisting arrest"
- Had previously avoided capture on an immigration warrant
- DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated he had "previously escaped from custody"

2. INCIDENT TIMELINE¶

Pre-Incident Context¶

Parias was the subject of an active immigration arrest warrant
Federal agents from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, reassigned by the Trump administration to "roving patrols" tasked with arresting undocumented immigrants, were conducting targeted enforcement
Agents had been surveilling Parias's residence

October 21, 2025 - The Shooting¶

Time: Approximately 8:45-8:52 AM
Location: 400 block of East 20th Street near Trinity Street, South Los Angeles
Proximity: Directly adjacent to Santee Education Complex (LAUSD high school)

8:45 AM - Surveillance and Departure:
- Federal agents observed Parias walk out of his home
- Parias entered his Toyota Camry and drove away
- Agents followed in marked law enforcement vehicles

~8:50 AM - The Traffic Stop:
- Agents boxed in Parias's Camry using their vehicles
- Agents exited their vehicles and ordered Parias out of his car
- Parias did not exit the vehicle

Government's Version of Events:
- DHS described this as a "targeted enforcement traffic stop on undocumented immigrant"
- Parias "instead drove forward and backward, striking two of the law enforcement vehicles" (per prosecutors)
- DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin: "The illegal alien weaponized his vehicle and began ramming the law enforcement vehicle in an attempt to flee"
- McLaughlin: "Fearing for the safety of the public and law enforcement, our officers followed their training and fired defensive shots"

What Body Camera Footage Actually Shows:
- ICE agent approached Parias's passenger side door
- Agent "almost immediately" stated he was going to "break the window"
- Agent held gun in one hand while smashing the passenger window with the other
- As the window was smashed, the car engine revved and smoke billowed from tires
- Parias's car did NOT appear to be moving at the time the agent pointed his weapon and fired
- Other agents were positioned beside the driver's side door
- Parias was seen raising his hands and asking why he was being detained

8:52 AM - The Shooting:
- ICE agent fired 11 rounds at Parias's vehicle
- Parias struck once in the elbow
- A ricochet bullet struck a deputy U.S. Marshal in the hand
- Both Parias and the Marshal were transported to a hospital

9:03 AM - School Lockdown:
- Santee Education Complex placed on lockdown
- Students and faculty sheltered in place

9:30 AM - Lockdown Lifted:
- LAUSD lifted lockdown after only 27 minutes
- Federal agents and police were still swarming the area
- Teachers confronted school administrators, noting ICE agents remained on the school's front lawn
- Students later held protests demanding their safety be taken seriously

Key Discrepancies Between Government Account and Video Evidence:

Government Claim	Body Camera Evidence
Parias "weaponized his vehicle"	Car appears stationary when shots fired
Rammed law enforcement vehicles	Agent smashing window before any movement
"Defensive shots" fired	Agent drew weapon while smashing window
Tried to "flee"	Parias raised hands, asked why he was being detained

3. EVIDENCE AND DOCUMENTATION¶

Body Camera Footage¶

Contents:
- Shows agent approaching passenger side
- Agent announces intent to "break the window" almost immediately
- Agent simultaneously holds gun and smashes window
- Car engine revving, smoke from tires
- Car NOT moving at time of shooting
- Agent fires through/near the broken window

Government Handling of Footage:
- DHS publicly promoted the "weaponized vehicle" narrative for weeks before footage was available
- Body camera footage was due to defense by court-ordered deadline of December 5, 2025
- Government released footage on December 10, 2025 -- five days late
- Judge Olguin: "By delaying production of the body camera footage, the government eliminated any possibility for the defense to review the footage with Mr. Parias"
- U.S. Attorney prosecuting the case possessed footage but missed the deadline

Independent Video Evidence:
- L.A. TACO obtained separate video capturing 11 shots fired in quick succession
- Neighborhood security cameras captured portions of the incident
- Video evidence consistently contradicted the government's initial public statements

Physical Evidence¶

Bullet wound to Parias's elbow (required multiple surgeries, permanent injury)
Ricochet bullet wound to deputy U.S. Marshal's hand
Damage to Parias's Toyota Camry
Damage to law enforcement vehicles (government cited as evidence of "ramming")

4. DENIAL OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS¶

Systematic Obstruction of Counsel Access¶

The Problem:
After Parias was transferred from federal criminal custody to ICE immigration detention at Adelanto, his criminal defense attorneys were repeatedly blocked from visiting him despite an impending trial date.

Judge Olguin's Findings (from 28-page ruling):
- ICE placed "obstacles and roadblocks" that made attorney access "difficult, if not impossible"
- Parias was prevented from speaking to his lawyers "for nearly the entire month preceding trial"
- Defense attorneys could not secure a single legal visit with their client after his transfer to ICE custody
- "The government's failure to coordinate the overlapping actions of its separate agencies while relentlessly pursuing Mr. Parias's criminal proceedings created a situation from which constitutional violations could -- and did -- occur"

Constitutional Violations Found:
1. Sixth Amendment right to counsel violated through systematic denial of attorney access
2. Due process violated through failure to comply with discovery deadlines
3. Right to prepare adequate defense compromised by withholding body camera footage

Structural Problem Identified:
The judge specifically identified the problem as interagency: the criminal prosecution (U.S. Attorney's Office) was proceeding on a fast track while ICE detention (separate DHS component) was blocking the very attorney access needed to prepare a defense. Neither agency took responsibility for coordination.

5. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS¶

Initial Proceedings¶

October 21, 2025: Parias arrested, shot, hospitalized
October [date unclear]: Appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian
Bail: Ordered released on $15,000 bail by Magistrate Judge Chooljian
However: ICE detained him on immigration hold before criminal release could occur

Grand Jury Indictment¶

November 6, 2025: Federal grand jury indicted Parias
Charges:
Assault on a federal officer using a deadly or dangerous weapon (up to 8 years)
Depredation of government property
Plea: Not guilty

Case Dismissal¶

December 5, 2025: Court-ordered deadline for body camera footage -- government misses it
December 10, 2025: Government belatedly produces body camera footage
December 27, 2025 (3:14 PM PT): Judge Fernando M. Olguin dismisses indictment
Dismissal Type: WITH PREJUDICE -- charges can never be refiled
Court: Central District of California
Ruling: 28-page order detailing constitutional violations

Government Response¶

U.S. Attorney's Office, Los Angeles: "We strongly disagree with the court's version of the facts as well as its legal conclusions"
Agency stated it is "evaluating its options for appeal"

Immigration Proceedings (Ongoing)¶

Parias remains in ICE detention at Adelanto ICE Processing Center
2018 administrative removal order remains active and is the basis for continued detention
Immigration case is separate from the dismissed criminal matter
Immigration attorney: Carlos Jurado (described Parias as a "pacifist")

6. FACILITY INFORMATION¶

Adelanto ICE Processing Center¶

Basic Facts:
- Location: Adelanto, San Bernardino County, California (~70 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles)
- Operator: The GEO Group, Inc. (Florida-based, second-largest for-profit prison company in U.S.)
- Capacity: Up to 1,940 detainees after 2015 expansion
- History: Originally a California state prison (1991-2010); purchased by GEO Group in 2010; converted to ICE detention facility in 2011
- Revenue Model: GEO Group receives up to ~$112/day per detainee from ICE, with the city of Adelanto as intermediary (structured to avoid competitive bidding requirements)

Documented History of Abuse and Neglect:
- July 2015: 29 members of Congress requested investigation into conditions
- November 2015: 400 detainees staged hunger strike demanding better medical and dental care
- May 2018: DHS surprise inspection found nooses in detainee cells, inappropriate use of solitary confinement, improper handcuffing and shackling
- September 2025: Ismael Ayala-Uribe, 39, DACA recipient, died in ICE custody at Adelanto
- October 2025: Gabriel Garcia-Aviles, 56, died after only one week detained at Adelanto
- June 2025: Disability Rights California found inadequate medical treatment, widespread respiratory illness, inadequate food and water access, detainees in soiled clothing for extended periods
- Summer 2025: Democratic lawmakers touring facility reported immigrants going 10 days without clean clothes, underwear, or towels
- 2025: Guards reportedly tear-gassed an entire dormitory; detainees forced to clean facilities for $1/day
- January 2026: Federal lawsuit filed by Public Counsel, CHIRLA, Immigrant Defenders Law Center, and Willkie Farr & Gallagher challenging "cruel, inhumane" conditions

Congressional Scrutiny:
- Rep. Judy Chu described facility as having "a long and troubling history of documented human rights abuses, including inadequate medical care, poor living conditions, neglect and mistreatment, and even deaths that ICE has deemed preventable"
- Chu advocated for immediate, permanent closure
- ICE declined to close the facility

Legal History:
- Hernandez v. Sessions (2016): ACLU class action; Ninth Circuit affirmed preliminary injunction in 2017, first decision imposing due process requirements in immigration bond context
- January 2026 federal lawsuit ongoing, challenging unconstitutional conditions

7. THE SCHOOL: SANTEE EDUCATION COMPLEX¶

Impact on Students and Community¶

The Lockdown:
- Santee Education Complex (LAUSD high school) located on East 20th Street -- the same street as the shooting
- Lockdown initiated at 9:03 a.m. after 11 gunshots heard
- Lockdown lifted at 9:30 a.m. -- only 27 minutes -- while federal agents remained in the area

Controversy Over Early Lockdown Lifting:
- Teachers confronted interim principal Lucera Malone, who told staff ICE was "no longer on campus"
- A teacher (identified as Maria) went outside and observed ICE agents still on the school's front lawn
- Teacher reminded administration that school policy mandates lockdown whenever ICE is in the vicinity
- LAUSD administrator of operations told students: "We don't have a policy that dictates that we go on lockdown because ICE is in the area"

Student Response:
- Students held protests during lunch period demanding their safety be taken seriously
- Students demanded clarity on lockdown policy regarding ICE presence
- Faculty sent letter requesting change in school leadership
- Wave of new signatures from teachers, students, and parents after the incident

Significance:
The shooting near an active school during school hours, combined with the administration's decision to lift the lockdown while agents remained present, became a flashpoint in the broader debate about immigration enforcement near schools and California's sanctuary policies.

8. PATTERN ANALYSIS¶

Targeting of Activist/Journalist¶

Parias was not randomly encountered. He was the specific target of a surveillance-and-arrest operation:
- Agents watched him leave his home
- Agents followed him and boxed in his car
- He had 340,000+ followers documenting ICE operations
- His content directly exposed and complicated ICE enforcement in South LA
- He had received official city recognition for this work just two months before

Question: Was the aggressive enforcement approach -- boxing in a car, smashing windows, firing 11 rounds -- proportionate to serving an immigration warrant on a non-violent person? Or was the intensity of the operation influenced by his activism?

"Weaponized Vehicle" -- A Recurring Federal Justification¶

Parias's case fits a documented pattern. An investigation tracked at least 15 incidents since August 2025 in which federal immigration agents opened fire on people in vehicles, using the same justification: the driver "weaponized" their vehicle.

Pattern: After each shooting, DHS rapidly promoted the "weaponized vehicle" narrative before evidence was available
Reality: In many cases, video evidence later contradicted the claim
Outcomes of 15 tracked cases: 4 criminal cases dropped or dismissed; 4 ongoing; 3 resulted in deportation proceedings only (no charges despite DHS claims); 2 civilians killed
Expert analysis: Former Houston and Miami police chief Art Acevedo stated that "the tactics you're seeing used by ICE and CBP are absolutely not in line with best practices in American policing"
DHS counter-claim: Asserted "3,200% increase in vehicular attacks" but provided no supporting evidence

Body Camera Footage Contradicting DHS Narrative¶

Same pattern observed across multiple cases:
- Government promotes narrative immediately after shooting
- Body camera footage, when eventually released, contradicts claims
- Government delays or resists releasing footage
- In Parias's case, footage was released five days past court deadline

Constitutional Violations in ICE Detention¶

The denial of counsel documented in Parias's case reflects a structural problem:
- Criminal prosecution proceeds on fast track
- ICE detention simultaneously blocks attorney access needed for defense
- No interagency coordination to protect constitutional rights
- Judge found these violations were not incidental but systemic

9. CRITICAL QUESTIONS¶

Why did the ICE agent fire 11 rounds at a car that appears stationary in body camera footage?
Who authorized the surveillance-and-box-in operation against Parias, and was his activist profile a factor in the tactical approach?
Why was body camera footage not released by the court-ordered deadline, and who made the decision to delay?
Who specifically ordered or permitted the denial of attorney access at Adelanto?
Will there be any accountability -- administrative, disciplinary, or criminal -- for the constitutional violations documented by Judge Olguin?
Will the U.S. Attorney's Office actually appeal the dismissal, or was the statement political cover?
Why is Parias still detained when the criminal case was permanently dismissed?
Has the ICE agent who fired 11 shots faced any internal review or discipline?
What is the status of Parias's immigration case, and will his documented injuries and constitutional violations be considered?
How many other ICE detainees at Adelanto have been denied access to counsel?

10. CURRENT STATUS (as of February 2026)¶

Criminal Case: PERMANENTLY CLOSED -- dismissed with prejudice December 27, 2025

Immigration Detention: ONGOING
- Held at Adelanto ICE Processing Center (GEO Group facility)
- 2018 administrative removal order active
- Immigration proceedings continuing
- Attorney Carlos Jurado representing in immigration case

Medical Status:
- Shot in elbow on October 21, 2025
- Underwent multiple surgeries
- Permanent elbow injury reported

U.S. Attorney Appeal:
- Office stated it is "evaluating options for appeal" of the dismissal
- No appeal filed as of this writing

11. SOURCES¶

Primary News Coverage¶

Analysis and In-Depth Coverage¶

School Impact¶

Broader Pattern of Federal Agent Shootings¶

Facility Background¶

Additional Coverage¶

FINAL ASSESSMENT¶

Overall Confidence: HIGH

What We Know For Certain:
- Carlitos Ricardo Parias, 44, Mexican national from Puebla, father of two, construction worker, citizen journalist with 340,000+ TikTok followers
- Specifically targeted by ICE agents conducting surveillance on his home
- Shot in the elbow by an ICE agent who fired 11 rounds at his Toyota Camry on October 21, 2025
- Deputy U.S. Marshal also wounded by ricochet bullet in the hand
- Body camera footage shows car appearing stationary when agent smashed window and fired
- DHS publicly claimed "weaponized vehicle" narrative for weeks before footage contradicted it
- Indicted November 6, 2025; pleaded not guilty
- Criminal defense attorneys systematically blocked from visiting him at Adelanto
- Body camera footage released five days past court-ordered deadline
- Indictment dismissed WITH PREJUDICE on December 27, 2025 by Judge Fernando M. Olguin
- 28-page ruling documented constitutional violations including denial of counsel
- Despite permanent dismissal of criminal charges, Parias remains in ICE detention
- Has undergone multiple surgeries; permanent elbow injury

What This Case Demonstrates:

Targeting of a journalist who documented ICE -- Parias had 340,000 followers watching his coverage of enforcement operations; he was specifically surveilled and targeted
The "weaponized vehicle" fraud -- DHS promoted a narrative for weeks that body camera footage then contradicted; this same pattern has been documented in at least 15 other federal agent shootings
Disproportionate force -- 11 rounds fired at a car that appears stationary, adjacent to a school with students inside
Systematic denial of constitutional rights -- Not an isolated mistake but a structural failure where criminal prosecution raced ahead while detention blocked the defense
Continued detention after exoneration -- Criminal charges permanently dismissed, but the person remains imprisoned
The Adelanto pipeline -- Parias held at a facility with extensive documented history of abuse, medical neglect, and detainee deaths
Impunity -- No agent has faced any consequence for firing 11 rounds at a person who appears to have been stationary, or for the documented constitutional violations

The dismissal "with prejudice" -- the strongest form of case termination -- indicates the judge found government misconduct so serious it warranted permanent closure. The government's own footage undermined its own narrative. Yet the person they shot remains in their custody.

Disclaimer:

This report is compiled from publicly available sources as of February 12, 2026. All claims are attributed to named sources. Use responsibly and verify independently.

Every. Human. Matters.

Published by Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Methodology: Bellingcat-standard OSINT — public sources only