Judge dismisses case against TikTok streamer shot by federal agent. What his ruling says.
- - Judge dismisses case against TikTok streamer shot by federal agent. What his ruling says.
Thao Nguyen, USA TODAYDecember 30, 2025 at 4:25 AM
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A federal judge has dismissed the charges against a Los Angeles-based TikTok creator who was accused of assaulting an officer before being shot by a federal agent during an immigration enforcement operation, court records show.
Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a 44-year-old TikTok streamer who documents immigration enforcement activity around Los Angeles, was charged with assault on a federal officer in connection to an Oct. 21 confrontation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. He was indicted by a grand jury and was scheduled to go on trial on Dec. 30.
Prosecutors accused Parias, a Mexican national living in South Los Angeles, of ramming into law enforcement vehicles in "an attempt to dislodge his car during an immigration arrest." During the incident, prosecutors said a federal agent opened fire and wounded Parias and a deputy U.S. Marshal, who was hit by a ricochet bullet.
U.S. District Judge Fernando M. Olguin dismissed the case with prejudice on Dec. 27. That means that prosecutors cannot refile the same charges against Parias.
The judge cited constitutional violations in his decision, saying Parias was deprived of his access to counsel while being held in detention.
Olguin also noted that the government did not comply with discovery deadlines, including the release of body camera footage of the shooting. The footage, which was captured by a camera worn by the officer who shot Parias, was released on Dec. 10 − five days after the deadline.
"By delaying production of the body camera footage, the government eliminated any possibility for the defense to review the footage with Mr. Parias," Olguin wrote. "And with each passing day, the ability of defense counsel to meet with their client and prepare for trial was further undermined, resulting in even more prejudice to defendant."
Though the indictment against him has been dismissed, Parias could remain in detention as his immigration case moves forward. He is living in the U.S. without legal permission, federal authorities say.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles said in a statement to CBS News that it "strongly" disagrees with the ruling and will explore options for appeal.
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Federal agents surveilled TikTok streamer's neighborhood before arrest
On the morning of Oct. 21, federal agents were surveilling Parias’ neighborhood and saw him leaving his home, according to a criminal complaint. Prosecutors said Parias was the "subject of an administrative immigration arrest warrant and had avoided capture before."
After he got into his car, prosecutors said agents followed him and boxed Parias' car in with their vehicles, leaving him "with no reasonable means of escape." Parias then drove his vehicle forward and back, hitting two law enforcement vehicles, according to the complaint.
"Parias still refused to submit to arrest, and then drove ... more aggressively, forwards towards one law enforcement vehicle," prosecutors alleged. "Parias’s aggressive driving escalated to the point that large plumes of smoke formed around the (vehicle) apparently caused by the spinning of the car’s tires."
Prosecutors said Parias refused to comply with agents’ orders, which prompted an agent to attempt to break into the driver's side window of Parias' car. During the incident, an agent opened fire and wounded Parias. A deputy U.S. Marshal assisting with the arrest sustained minor injuries after being hit with a ricochet bullet, prosecutors added.
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Newly released body camera footage shows moments before shooting
Newly released body camera footage from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who shot Parias, obtained by The Los Angeles Times, has raised questions about the shooting, the newspaper reported.
The footage showed the agent holding a gun in one hand and using the other to break open the passenger side window of Parias’ car, according to The Times. The agent then orders Parias to turn off his vehicle.
Parias is seen raising his hands in the air and asking the agent why he was being detained, the newspaper said. The agent repeatedly attempted to open the passenger side door of Parias' car before moving the gun to his left hand and firing.
The Times reported that at the time, Parias’ car did not appear to be moving and other agents were seen in the footage near the driver’s side door.
Latest shooting involving ICE agents
A protester stands on a burned car holding a Mexican flag on June 7, 2025, in Paramount, California.
The Trump administration has ramped up immigration enforcement actions nationwide as part of a push to conduct a record number of deportations. The federal immigration raids and deportations have sparked pushback and protests in dozens of states.
On Dec. 24, federal officials said two people were injured after ICE officers opened fire on a vehicle during an enforcement operation in Maryland.
In September, ICE agents shot and killed a man who they said had tried to run them over with a car, though security and body camera footage raised doubts about the situation.
Contributing: N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Judge dismisses case against TikTok streamer shot by federal agent
Source: “AOL Breaking”
