A man accused of shooting a Charleston County, S.C., deputy during an early-morning traffic stop has been identified as a previously removed illegal immigrant with a felony illegal reentry conviction, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
DHS identified the suspect as Floriberto Perez-Nieto, a Mexican national who had previously been deported from the United States and later reentered unlawfully. Authorities said he was convicted in the past for illegal reentry, a federal felony offense.
According to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded shortly after 9 p.m. on Feb. 10 to reports of shots fired on Johns Island in South Carolina. Officers were unable to locate the suspect at that time.
At approximately 3 a.m. on Feb. 11, deputies received another call from the same reporting party indicating the suspect had returned to the area. Deputies later observed Perez-Nieto’s vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. Authorities said he attempted to evade arrest and fired at deputies, striking one deputy in the chest.
Other deputies returned fire. Perez-Nieto was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Officials said the wounded deputy was wearing body armor and was not seriously injured.
“This criminal illegal alien illegally obtained a firearm and nearly killed a law enforcement officer,” DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “Thankfully, the officer’s body armor saved his life. There could have been quite a different tragic outcome for this officer and his family.”
DHS said Perez-Nieto had previously entered the United States from Mexico at an unknown time and location without inspection. He was formally removed from the country on Feb. 20, 2019. At some point afterward, authorities said he reentered the United States illegally.
DHS officials told Fox News Digital that Perez-Nieto had a prior deportation and felony illegal reentry conviction before the Charleston County incident. Authorities have not released additional details about how he obtained the firearm.
The shooting remains under investigation by local law enforcement.
