A federal grand jury has indicted Jacob Daniel Terrazas, 30, of Paramount, on a charge of assaulting a federal employee with a deadly and dangerous weapon resulting in bodily injury. The indictment follows an incident that took place last June during a protest near a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) facility in Paramount, which escalated into violence.
According to court documents, Terrazas was among several individuals who threw hard objects, including cinderblocks and rocks, at federal agents during the protest on June 7. He allegedly used both a makeshift shield and nearby trees for cover while repeatedly rushing toward agents to throw remnants of cinderblock.
One piece of cinderblock thrown by Terrazas struck a Border Patrol agent in the left shin, causing bleeding. The injured agent temporarily left the front lines to address his injury but returned after determining he could still walk and stand. Another agent was hit by rocks but was not injured.
Terrazas and others reportedly threw rocks at Border Patrol agents for about three hours. Law enforcement responded with less-lethal force pepper bells before detaining and arresting Terrazas. He was identified as wearing a dark beanie and black mask covering the lower half of his face.
Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli stated: “We will not stand by while our brave federal agents and officers get hurt. If you injure an official enforcing immigration law, you may serve 20 years in a federal prison cell. It’s just not worth it.”
The indictment notes that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If convicted, Terrazas faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
Homeland Security Investigations is conducting the investigation into the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Eric Mackie and Brenda Galván from the General Crimes Section are prosecuting.
