In brief
Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a well-known TikTok content creator in South Los Angeles, is recovering in the hospital after being shot by federal officers. He was charged with assaulting a federal officer when he allegedly rammed his vehicle into theirs during an attempted arrest for immigration-related offenses. Parias, who creates videos documenting police encounters and community life, remains popular among locals for his real-time updates on immigration enforcement activities.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Los Angeles man shot by federal officers while he tried to evade arrest Tuesday morning is a popular local TikTok streamer who documents police activity, immigration enforcement and daily neighborhood life.
Carlitos Ricardo Parias, 44, was charged with assaulting a federal officer after authorities say he rammed his vehicle into theirs while they attempted to arrest him on an immigration warrant. He is a Mexican citizen living in the U.S. illegally, federal authorities said. Agents shot him in the elbow during the encounter and he remained in the hospital in stable condition Wednesday morning. An initial court appearance was delayed.
His attorney, Carlos Jurado, stated that the hospital had not allowed him or family members to see Parias yet. Parias briefly contacted Jurado Wednesday morning, saying that guards were monitoring him.
“What we want is we want to see him in person,” Jurado remarked. The hospital did not immediately comment.
Parias has gained a following in the South LA neighborhood for his Spanish-language content on TikTok, with over 340,000 combined followers across two accounts. His videos often depict police activity, accidents, demonstrations against immigration enforcement, and aspects of Mexican-American culture.
Parias' social media presence has made him a key figure in communicating real-time information about immigration raids and police actions, enabling community members to stay informed.
Federal agents were monitoring Parias' neighborhood Tuesday as they had an immigration arrest warrant for him. When he left home, agents tried to arrest him, leading him to hit law enforcement vehicles with his car. At least one officer fired their weapon during the encounter. This was the second attempt to arrest Parias by federal officials.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price’s office recently recognized Parias for his contributions, highlighting his role in informing residents about local news and city services.
Advocates argue that Parias' independent reporting is vital as immigration enforcement becomes increasingly aggressive in the region.