Interstate 210 in Monrovia, California with San Gabriel Mountains. Summit in upper right is Mount Bliss, in the San Gabriel Mountains inside Angeles National Forest. (By David Jordan/ Wikimedia Commons)
A man was fatally struck as he ran onto the Foothill 210 Freeway while trying to escape from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at a Monrovia Home Depot store on Thursday.
His identity has not yet been revealed, according to authorities.
"Today, once again, another human being, a fellow Angeleno who sought a better life in the United States, lost his life running away from federal agents conducting one more of their lawless, cruel immigration enforcement operations,” Angelica Salas, executive director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), said. “We must say it loud and clear lest we forget: immigrants are human beings and our lives matter. Enough of the repression, cruelty, and so-called collateral damage as the government-sponsored military operations continue in Los Angeles and in other parts of the country. We should not accept this horrific treatment of other human beings as the new norm.”
According to a statement by Monrovia City Manager Dylan Feik, Monrovia police responded shortly before 10 a.m. to a call about an ICE action at the Home Depot at 1625 Mountain Ave. During that action, a man fled on foot across Evergreen Avenue and onto the 210 Freeway and was struck by a vehicle near Myrtle Avenue, according to Feik and the California Highway Patrol.
CHP officials said the person was taken to a hospital, where he died.
"There is no ongoing ICE activity reported in Monrovia at this time, and the city has not received any communication or information from ICE," Feik said. "While we understand community members want to know more about the incident, the information provided in this update is all the city has to provide at this time."
Ron Gochez, a member of Unión del Barrio, told the Los Angeles Times that they hold the immigration authorities responsible for the man’s death.
“We hold the Trump administration, the Department of Homeland Security and the Home Depot responsible for his death and they must be held accountable,” Gochez said.
Additional reporting by City News Service.
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