Fri, January 9, 2026 at 7:20 AM
Updated Fri, January 9, 2026 at 8:04 PM
Luis David Nico Moncada andYorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras have been confirmed as the husband and wife shot by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent in southeast Portland - DHS
PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — We're learning more about the two people shot Thursday by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent in Southeast Portland, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Portland Police confirming the two had ties to the Tren de Aragua criminal group.
DHS identified the two people as as Luis David Nino-Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras. Both were taken to the hospital after the shooting.
Nino-Moncada, who was shot in the arm, is out of the hospital and is now in FBI custody.
Zambrano-Contreras was shot in the chest. Portland Police Chief Bob Day said she remains in stable condition.
The shooting happened at about 2:20 p.m. Thursday outside the Adventist Health clinic near Southeast Main Street. Officials say Moncada was behind the wheel of the vehicle on Thursday when he was shot. Zambrano-Contreras was a passenger in the vehicle.
DHS said the duo "weaponized their vehicle against Border Patrol" and the agent fired at them in self-defense.
They drove more than 2.5 miles to Northeast 146th Avenue and East Burnside, where they were found and taken to the hospital.
KATU is working to obtain evidence that can explain what happened.
TREN DE ARAGUA IN PORTLAND
We wanted to know what prevalence TdA has in Portland, if any.
Chief Bob Day said, "We certainly can say that there is a presence. It would not appear to be as significant as maybe some have been led to believe."
While he couldn't get into specifics, he did say, "oftentimes they will prey on their own Venezuelan immigrant population because they know that they have a reluctance to want to engage with law enforcement. But once again, this is something that we're getting up to speed in, getting up to speed up."
We asked Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez if he has any knowledge of whether TdA is active in Portland, or in Multnomah County.
"It's certainly something that we have seen, and we are working on with our local law enforcement. We have seen them in our area. They are one of kind of a host of different groups or individuals out there that are engaged in criminal activity, and it's something that we're working on," said Vasquez.
WHITE HOUSE & DHS STATEMENTS
On Friday afternoon, a spokesperson for the White House sent KATU News the following statement about Thursday's shooting:
“ICE and Border Patrol agents conduct operations with the utmost professionalism. Their work is critical to keeping Americans safe. Yesterday, two criminal illegal aliens, including a TdA member with a final order of removal, attacked Border Patrol.
"This will not deter the Administration from conducting lawful operations – instead, it affirms the need to continue to keep Americans safe.”
We also heard back from DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin's office on Friday evening:
“Only one day after an ICE officer was almost ran over in Minneapolis, two vicious Tren de Aragua gang members—let loose on American streets by Joe Biden—weaponized their vehicle against Border Patrol in Portland,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
“The agent took immediate action to defend himself and others, shooting them. Thankfully, no law enforcement was injured as these criminals fled. Our law enforcement officers are on the frontlines arresting terrorists, gang members, murderers, pedophiles, and rapists. They are facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them, a 3,200% increase in vehicular attacks against them, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against them. The violence must end.”
PROTESTS AND ARRESTS
The shooting sparked protests at the city's ICE facility later that evening, which has been the scene of demonstrations against immigration enforcement since June.
It also happened nearly a day after a woman was shot and killed by federal law enforcement in Minneapolis.
There have been protests nationwide following Wednesday's shooting in Minnesota.
Chief Day said he hopes any demonstrations into the weekend will remain peaceful as Portlanders exercise their First Amendment rights.
“Last night there were some who chose not to follow the direction of the officers, and we were required to make a couple of arrests,” said Chief Day. “Considering the heightened amount of energy and concern last night, I’m still very grateful for the overall event and the participation.”
Luis David Nico Moncada andYorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras have been confirmed as the husband and wife shot by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent in southeast Portland - DHS
PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — We're learning more about the two people shot Thursday by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent in Southeast Portland, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Portland Police confirming the two had ties to the Tren de Aragua criminal group.
DHS identified the two people as as Luis David Nino-Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras. Both were taken to the hospital after the shooting.
Nino-Moncada, who was shot in the arm, is out of the hospital and is now in FBI custody.
Zambrano-Contreras was shot in the chest. Portland Police Chief Bob Day said she remains in stable condition.
The shooting happened at about 2:20 p.m. Thursday outside the Adventist Health clinic near Southeast Main Street. Officials say Moncada was behind the wheel of the vehicle on Thursday when he was shot. Zambrano-Contreras was a passenger in the vehicle.
DHS said the duo "weaponized their vehicle against Border Patrol" and the agent fired at them in self-defense.
They drove more than 2.5 miles to Northeast 146th Avenue and East Burnside, where they were found and taken to the hospital.
KATU is working to obtain evidence that can explain what happened.
COURT RECORDS
KATU is also digging into the alleged criminal records of the individuals involved.
DHS said he entered the country illegally and 2022 and since was arrested for driving under the influence and unauthorized use of a vehicle. A spokesperson said he also has a final order of removal, and is a suspected Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang member.
Court records show Nino-Moncada has an open DUII case in Washington County. The indictment — filed in early December — said he was caught driving under the influence of alcohol.
The passenger in yesterday's shooting — Yorlenys Zambrano-Contreras — is listed as a witness in grand jury proceedings. Nino-Moncada also has a number of speeding tickets in Multnomah County.
Court records show he also received a protective order against Zambrano-Contreras last November. He wrote that Zambrano-Contreras hit him with her car and told people she would kill him the next time she saw him. A judge approved the request in late November of last year, though court records indicate the two people were together after the order, and were together during yesterday's shooting.
DHS said Zambrano-Contreras entered illegally in 2023 and "played an active role in a Tren de Aragua prostitution ring." They said she was also involved in a prior shooting in Portland.
Publicly-available court records do not show a criminal record for her in Oregon. Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez is investigating whether either person has open cases in Multnomah County.
PORTLAND POLICE INVESTIGATION
In a press conference Friday, Portland Police Chief Day said both Nino-Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras had some "nexus" of with TdA. Though he said he was hesitant to mention anything in the first place.
"I hesitated to even share this information initially because I'm very aware of the historic injustice of victim blaming oftentimes portrayed by law enforcement. Including this very agency that I've represented so proudly for so many years. And historically we have not been quick to disclose the potential criminal history of others. But I felt it was imperative because I was asked yesterday in the news conference what information we have. This is information we have," said Chief Day.
The bureau is investigating a shooting case from July of this year, where the victim self-identified as being a Venezuelan immigrant. The victim indicated that those involved in the shooting were with TdA.
“It’s been an ongoing investigation, but we’ve been working that case, and there’s also been involvement with the two people who were shot yesterday,” said Chief Day. "As far as I am aware, they haven't been named as suspects. They haven't been charged in it."
Nino-Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras were not confirmed to be the shooters, Chief Day said. He did not go into further specifics about that case.
Chief Day says the individuals are also connected to criminal cases in Washington County. He said Zambrano-Contreras was also arrested for prostitution in Washington County.
"I have been advised that the woman was arrested for prostitution in Washington County and that the male was a present when a search warrant was served in Washington County. I don't know if they were together. I don't know if that was simultaneous, but that's the information that we received," said Chief Day.
KATU is also digging into the alleged criminal records of the individuals involved.
DHS said he entered the country illegally and 2022 and since was arrested for driving under the influence and unauthorized use of a vehicle. A spokesperson said he also has a final order of removal, and is a suspected Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang member.
Court records show Nino-Moncada has an open DUII case in Washington County. The indictment — filed in early December — said he was caught driving under the influence of alcohol.
The passenger in yesterday's shooting — Yorlenys Zambrano-Contreras — is listed as a witness in grand jury proceedings. Nino-Moncada also has a number of speeding tickets in Multnomah County.
Court records show he also received a protective order against Zambrano-Contreras last November. He wrote that Zambrano-Contreras hit him with her car and told people she would kill him the next time she saw him. A judge approved the request in late November of last year, though court records indicate the two people were together after the order, and were together during yesterday's shooting.
DHS said Zambrano-Contreras entered illegally in 2023 and "played an active role in a Tren de Aragua prostitution ring." They said she was also involved in a prior shooting in Portland.
Publicly-available court records do not show a criminal record for her in Oregon. Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez is investigating whether either person has open cases in Multnomah County.
PORTLAND POLICE INVESTIGATION
In a press conference Friday, Portland Police Chief Day said both Nino-Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras had some "nexus" of with TdA. Though he said he was hesitant to mention anything in the first place.
"I hesitated to even share this information initially because I'm very aware of the historic injustice of victim blaming oftentimes portrayed by law enforcement. Including this very agency that I've represented so proudly for so many years. And historically we have not been quick to disclose the potential criminal history of others. But I felt it was imperative because I was asked yesterday in the news conference what information we have. This is information we have," said Chief Day.
The bureau is investigating a shooting case from July of this year, where the victim self-identified as being a Venezuelan immigrant. The victim indicated that those involved in the shooting were with TdA.
“It’s been an ongoing investigation, but we’ve been working that case, and there’s also been involvement with the two people who were shot yesterday,” said Chief Day. "As far as I am aware, they haven't been named as suspects. They haven't been charged in it."
Nino-Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras were not confirmed to be the shooters, Chief Day said. He did not go into further specifics about that case.
Chief Day says the individuals are also connected to criminal cases in Washington County. He said Zambrano-Contreras was also arrested for prostitution in Washington County.
"I have been advised that the woman was arrested for prostitution in Washington County and that the male was a present when a search warrant was served in Washington County. I don't know if they were together. I don't know if that was simultaneous, but that's the information that we received," said Chief Day.
TREN DE ARAGUA IN PORTLAND
We wanted to know what prevalence TdA has in Portland, if any.
Chief Bob Day said, "We certainly can say that there is a presence. It would not appear to be as significant as maybe some have been led to believe."
While he couldn't get into specifics, he did say, "oftentimes they will prey on their own Venezuelan immigrant population because they know that they have a reluctance to want to engage with law enforcement. But once again, this is something that we're getting up to speed in, getting up to speed up."
We asked Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez if he has any knowledge of whether TdA is active in Portland, or in Multnomah County.
"It's certainly something that we have seen, and we are working on with our local law enforcement. We have seen them in our area. They are one of kind of a host of different groups or individuals out there that are engaged in criminal activity, and it's something that we're working on," said Vasquez.
WHITE HOUSE & DHS STATEMENTS
On Friday afternoon, a spokesperson for the White House sent KATU News the following statement about Thursday's shooting:
“ICE and Border Patrol agents conduct operations with the utmost professionalism. Their work is critical to keeping Americans safe. Yesterday, two criminal illegal aliens, including a TdA member with a final order of removal, attacked Border Patrol.
"This will not deter the Administration from conducting lawful operations – instead, it affirms the need to continue to keep Americans safe.”
We also heard back from DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin's office on Friday evening:
“Only one day after an ICE officer was almost ran over in Minneapolis, two vicious Tren de Aragua gang members—let loose on American streets by Joe Biden—weaponized their vehicle against Border Patrol in Portland,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
“The agent took immediate action to defend himself and others, shooting them. Thankfully, no law enforcement was injured as these criminals fled. Our law enforcement officers are on the frontlines arresting terrorists, gang members, murderers, pedophiles, and rapists. They are facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them, a 3,200% increase in vehicular attacks against them, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against them. The violence must end.”
PROTESTS AND ARRESTS
The shooting sparked protests at the city's ICE facility later that evening, which has been the scene of demonstrations against immigration enforcement since June.
It also happened nearly a day after a woman was shot and killed by federal law enforcement in Minneapolis.
There have been protests nationwide following Wednesday's shooting in Minnesota.
Chief Day said he hopes any demonstrations into the weekend will remain peaceful as Portlanders exercise their First Amendment rights.
“Last night there were some who chose not to follow the direction of the officers, and we were required to make a couple of arrests,” said Chief Day. “Considering the heightened amount of energy and concern last night, I’m still very grateful for the overall event and the participation.”
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