Suspected Venezuelan Gang Member in Portland CBP Shooting Linked to Earlier Oregon Apartment Complex Incident
PORTLAND, Ore. — A confrontation between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and a suspected Venezuelan gang member in Portland has been linked to an earlier shooting at an apartment complex in unincorporated Washington County, Oregon, officials confirmed. The incident, which occurred during a traffic stop on January 8, 2026, left both the suspect and his wife wounded, and investigators have since connected the woman to a July 2025 shooting that unsettled a normally quiet neighborhood.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies responded to a call about a shooting at an apartment complex last summer. Although no injuries were reported, the suspects fled before law enforcement arrived. A neighbor described the event as startling for the peaceful area. Justin Pitones told local station KGW8 that he heard breaking glass and later saw deputies moving through his yard with weapons drawn.
Authorities have identified the couple involved in the January traffic stop as linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization known for its violent activities across South America and increasingly in the United States. The wife, Yorlenys Zambrano-Contreras, was named a person of interest in the July shooting, according to law enforcement sources.
During the January 8 incident, CBP officers engaged the couple after a traffic stop escalated, resulting in both individuals being shot and wounded. The federal agents involved were part of a broader effort to combat gang-related violence and illegal immigration. Data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection indicates that such operations have intensified in Portland amid concerns over gang activity.
The involvement of the couple in both the earlier shooting and the recent confrontation has raised alarm among local officials and residents. Portland’s mayor has faced criticism for the city’s approach to federal immigration enforcement, with some calling for an end to operations by agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement within city limits. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security continues to emphasize the importance of these interventions to maintain public safety.
Community groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union have expressed concern about the potential for civil rights violations amid heightened federal activity but acknowledge the complexity of addressing gang violence linked to transnational criminal organizations.
As investigations proceed, law enforcement agencies are working to unravel the full extent of the couple’s involvement in criminal activities and their connections to the Tren de Aragua gang. The January shooting underscores the challenges faced by federal and local authorities in tackling gang-related crime while balancing community relations in Portland and the surrounding areas.
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