LOS ANGELES (BN24) — The Department of Justice on Monday identified the suspect accused of assaulting a federal officer during anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protests in Southern California, as officials under President Donald Trump’s administration vowed a swift and forceful federal response against violent demonstrators.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced that Elpidio Reyna has been identified as the individual allegedly captured on video throwing rocks at federal officers in Paramount, California, during protests that turned violent on Saturday. According to federal authorities, Reyna is accused of injuring a federal officer and damaging law enforcement vehicles by hurling rocks in the vicinity of Alondra Boulevard around 3:30 p.m.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, appearing on Fox News’ Hannity, confirmed that a search warrant was being executed at Reyna’s residence and stated that he would be placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. “That guy has just been identified, and they are doing a search warrant on his house, as we speak,” Bondi said during her interview with host Sean Hannity. “You can run, you can’t hide. We are coming after you federally.”
The suspect was initially sought by the FBI, which offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. A federal wanted poster described Reyna as armed and dangerous.
As the Trump administration signals a tougher posture on violent protest-related crimes, officials are invoking federal statutes, including the Hobbs Act, to pursue those who engage in looting, arson, or physical assaults on law enforcement. Bondi emphasized that those convicted of looting businesses in California could face up to 20 years in prison, while individuals charged with spitting on federal officers could face up to five years.
“As President Trump said: ‘You spit, we hit,’” Bondi stated. “Get ready. If you spit on a federal law enforcement officer, we are going to charge you with a crime federally.”
FBI Director Kash Patel echoed the administration’s hardline approach, warning that any assault on a law enforcement officer would be met with prosecution and prison time. “If you assault a law enforcement officer, you’re going to jail—period,” Patel told Fox News Digital. “It doesn’t matter where you came from, how you got here, or what cause you claim to represent.”
Patel reinforced his message on social media, writing, “If the local police force won’t back our men and women on the thin blue line, we @FBI will.”
The anti-ICE demonstrations in Los Angeles are the latest in a series of protests that have intensified across several states. Federal officials have repeatedly warned that those who escalate protests into violent confrontations will face serious consequences under federal law, particularly when injuries to officers or destruction of government property is involved.
The Department of Justice has not yet announced whether Reyna has been taken into custody.
Foxnews
