A quiet Portland neighborhood was shaken months before a dramatic confrontation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, revealing a hidden undercurrent of violence. In July, reports of gunfire at an apartment complex sent Washington County Sheriff’s deputies scrambling, though thankfully, no one was injured in that initial incident.
Justin Pitones, a resident who witnessed the July shooting, described a jarring scene. He recalled hearing shattering glass and then seeing deputies, weapons drawn, moving through his yard in broad daylight. “This is a quiet neighborhood,” he stated, emphasizing the unexpected nature of the disturbance.
Investigators quickly identified Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras as a person of interest in the July shooting. Deputies learned the incident appeared to be “a deal gone bad,” a phrase that would take on chilling resonance months later when it escalated into a federal shooting involving Border Patrol.
The case, spanning multiple jurisdictions and hinting at potential federal crimes, was handed over to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where it remains an active investigation. Authorities have remained tight-lipped, deferring all further inquiries to federal investigators.
The January 8th confrontation unfolded when CBP officers attempted a targeted traffic stop of a Toyota Tacoma occupied by Zambrano-Contreras and her husband, Luis Nino-Moncada. Prosecutors allege both individuals have connections to the notorious Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua.
According to prosecutors, Nino-Moncada, who had illegally entered the U.S. in 2022 and was under a final order of removal, refused to comply with the stop. Instead, he allegedly reversed the Tacoma into a Border Patrol vehicle, repeatedly ramming it in a desperate attempt to escape.
Fearing for their safety, a Border Patrol agent discharged their firearm, striking both Nino-Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras. Nino-Moncada later admitted to intentionally ramming the vehicle, confirming the agent’s account of a deliberate act of aggression.
The investigation has been hampered by a lack of visual evidence. No body-worn camera footage exists from the six agents involved, and searches for surveillance or social media video have proven fruitless. This absence of independent recordings adds complexity to the case.
Prosecutors have highlighted Nino-Moncada’s prior criminal history, including arrests for DUI and vehicle theft, and his release into the country despite his immigration status. Zambrano-Contreras, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2023, is also accused of involvement in a prostitution ring linked to Tren de Aragua.
This incident occurred just days after a separate, fatal shooting involving an ICE agent in Minneapolis. In that case, Renee Nicole Good was killed after authorities say she attempted to use her vehicle as a weapon against ICE agents, adding to the growing scrutiny of enforcement operations.
The Portland shooting and the Minneapolis incident raise critical questions about the challenges faced by federal agents and the escalating risks associated with immigration enforcement, particularly in cases involving individuals with alleged gang affiliations and criminal records.
