Guard Officers Fire at U-Haul Truck During Protest
In a tense scene captured on video, guards shot at a speeding U-Haul truck during a nighttime protest against ICE at a U.S. Coast Guard base in California. The footage, obtained from KPIX, shows demonstrators cheering as the truck suddenly backed up towards police officers stationed near the bridge to Coast Guard Island in Alameda.
As the vehicle rushed dangerously close, officers fired multiple rounds, prompting the truck to finally halt on the tracks. A video reveals that the driver, who appeared masked, pushed the truck forward before stopping, seemingly looking at his cell phone while facing protesters.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the truck may have struck two individuals who were nearby, though officials have yet to confirm any injuries. “He stepped on the gas and headed toward them at a high rate of speed,” commented KPIX photographer Rick Villaroman. “That’s when they fired shots—about 20 to 30 in total.”
The driver eventually returned, parked the truck outside the base, and left it there for much of the day. The Coast Guard noted in a statement that the vehicle began reversing towards the gate around 10 p.m. local time, ignoring commands to halt before gunfire erupted.
“Law enforcement fired live rounds when the vehicle’s actions posed a direct threat to the safety of Coast Guard personnel,” the Coast Guard stated. Fortunately, no injuries among the personnel were reported, and the FBI has taken the lead on an investigation into the event.
This incident escalated against the backdrop of a massive show of force, as hundreds of federal agents arrived at the base for a planned increase in immigration enforcement across the Bay Area. Protesters were actively trying to block access, standing in opposition to these efforts.
Interestingly, President Trump mentioned on Thursday that he wouldn’t send federal troops to San Francisco after discussions with the city’s mayor and business leaders. However, troops still ended up at the base, which was intended as a staging ground for operations.
