The driver who was shot by federal authorities during a traffic check in Portland last week has been detained and is expected to face federal charges in connection with the incident. He was set to appear in federal court on Monday.
The driver was identified as Luis David Nino-Moncada, 33, who was apprehended by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital after receiving treatment for a gunshot wound to the arm. He was later booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on a federal hold and is currently in the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
The incident took place Thursday, January 8, 2026, in a medical office parking lot following what officials described as a targeted traffic stop. The Department of Homeland Security stated that an agent fired in self-defense after Nino-Moncada allegedly “weaponized his vehicle and attempted to run over law enforcement officers.”
Both Nino-Moncada and his passenger, Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, were injured in the incident. Authorities stated the couple drove nearly 2.5 miles away from the site before phoning 911 for assistance.
Zambrano-Contreras was shot in the chest and is still hospitalized. She is also in federal custody, according to officials, although no charges have been brought against her as of early Monday. She is allegedly cooperating as a witness in grand jury procedures.
FBI officials have yet to reveal the exact charges against Nino-Moncada, but they are examining the event as an assault on federal officers. He is anticipated to make his first appearance in federal court in the coming days.
According to DHS and Portland police, Nino-Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras have ties or a “nexus” to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan transnational criminal organization. Nino-Moncada’s federal public defense has disputed such allegations, describing them as part of a “well-worn playbook” used to justify the use of force.
Nino-Moncada entered the United States illegally in 2022, according to DHS, and he is currently facing a final order of removal. According to court records, he has already faced local charges in Washington County, including an open DUI case and an indictment for unauthorized use of a vehicle.
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