A 33-year-old Nicaraguan man living in Pittsburgh without legal authorization has been indicted in federal court after an encounter with immigration agents that authorities say involved a car collision, an attempted grab for a service weapon, and multiple bites. The case now turns on how judges and, potentially, a jury interpret the brief period between a blocked gun purchase and the confrontation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, on December 17th, 2025.
According to Fox News, a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh charged the man, identified in that reporting as Davila-Perez, with one count of assaulting a federal officer. Prosecutors allege that he rammed an occupied law enforcement vehicle, fought with several agents, and left them with injuries that required medical treatment. Defense attorneys have not yet been quoted publicly, and the indictment itself does not resolve what evidence, including any video or bystander accounts, might ultimately be presented in court.
Alleged Gun Purchase Triggered Federal Attention
The federal case began, according to Fox News, when the Department of Homeland Security learned that Davila-Perez had recently attempted to buy a firearm from a local dealer in the Pittsburgh area. During that transaction, he allegedly claimed to be a U.S. citizen.
The gun sale did not go through. The dealer discovered that the buyer was a Nicaraguan national with no legal status in the United States and blocked the purchase. Under federal law, people who are in the country without legal authorization are prohibited from possessing or purchasing guns.
Fox News reports that the blocked sale prompted federal authorities to investigate and move to take Davila-Perez into custody for immigration violations. At this stage, there is no public indication in that reporting that he has been separately charged with any firearm or false-statement offenses connected to the attempted purchase, although the alleged conduct could have immigration consequences.
This early stage leaves several questions open. Court records that would list the full set of charges, if any, beyond assaulting a federal officer, have not been publicly detailed in the Fox News account. It is also not yet clear whether any statements from the gun dealer, surveillance footage from the shop, or federal background check records will become part of the evidence presented in court.
Traffic Stop Became Physical Confrontation
The incident that led to the assault charge unfolded on December 17th, 2025, when ICE agents attempted a vehicle stop in order to detain Davila-Perez on immigration grounds. When agents activated their emergency lights, he did not pull over, according to authorities cited by Fox News.
The indictment, as described in that reporting, alleges that Davila-Perez put his car into reverse and slammed it into an occupied law enforcement vehicle. He then allegedly got out of his vehicle and ran, prompting agents to pursue him on foot.
During the ensuing struggle, authorities say, the situation escalated from a chase to a close-quarters fight. According to Fox News, the indictment alleges that Davila-Perez elbowed one officer in the face, tried to pull an agent’s service weapon from its holster, bit an officer’s arm, and struck another agent in the forehead with a pair of handcuffs.
Throughout that encounter, ICE agents reportedly shouted commands in both English and Spanish, ordering him to “stop and show his hands.” Prosecutors contend that he ignored those orders until he was physically subdued. The agents involved were left with bite wounds, scrapes, and bruises that required medical attention, the outlet reported.
All of these details remain allegations. The description of the traffic stop and struggle comes from law enforcement accounts as summarized in Fox News coverage of the indictment. The public record so far does not include any account from Davila-Perez himself, and there is no indication yet of whether defense attorneys will contest the traffic stop, the degree of force used, or the sequence of events.
Charges, Penalties, and Immigration Stakes
Assaulting a federal officer is a felony under U.S. law. When the alleged assault results in bodily injury or involves a dangerous weapon, the maximum penalty can reach 20 years in prison. Fox News reports that, if convicted, Davila-Perez faces “a maximum of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both.”
The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury sitting in Pittsburgh, within the Western District of Pennsylvania. A grand jury’s decision to indict means jurors found probable cause that a crime was committed and that the defendant committed it. It is not a finding of guilt, and the presumption of innocence remains until and unless prosecutors prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt at trial or the defendant admits guilt in a plea agreement.
Fox News reports that Davila-Perez is being held in custody while the case moves forward. Pretrial detention decisions in federal court typically turn on factors such as the seriousness of the alleged conduct, the defendant’s ties to the community, immigration status, prior criminal history, and the risk of flight or danger to others. The specific reasons a judge ordered him held have not been detailed in the reporting.
Immigration consequences are also likely to loom over the case. Federal law allows for the removal of noncitizens who are in the country without authorization, particularly if they are convicted of certain crimes. Individuals in this situation can face both criminal proceedings in federal court and separate civil immigration proceedings in immigration court, although Fox News does not specify what, if any, immigration court actions have been initiated.
Evidence, Procedure, and Unanswered Questions
As of now, the public understanding of the case is shaped primarily by the allegations outlined in the indictment and summarized in Fox News reporting. Those documents and accounts describe the government’s theory of what happened. They do not include defense evidence or cross-examination.
Several aspects of the incident remain unclear in the public record. It is not known from the available reporting whether the ICE agents involved were equipped with dash cameras or body cameras, or whether any such footage exists. The presence or absence of video could significantly influence how fact finders assess claims about the collision, the intensity of the struggle, and whether commands were followed or ignored.
Other potential evidence that could emerge includes photographs of vehicle damage, medical records documenting agents’ injuries, radio traffic logs, and written use-of-force reports. None of that has been detailed publicly so far. It is also not yet clear whether any independent witnesses observed the traffic stop or the physical confrontation.
Procedurally, the next major steps would typically include arraignment, pretrial motions, and any effort by defense counsel to obtain suppression of statements or evidence, if they argue that the stop or subsequent actions were unlawful. Those motions, if filed, could bring more detailed accounts from both sides into the public record.
For now, the case sits at an early stage. A federal grand jury has authorized the charge, ICE agents have reported injuries, and a man without legal status in the United States faces the possibility of a lengthy prison term and eventual removal. What remains unresolved is how much of the government’s account will be corroborated by physical and documentary evidence, and whether the case ends in a negotiated plea or is tested at trial.
Sources
- Fox News: Illegal Immigrant Allegedly Rams ICE Vehicle, Bites Agents After Failed Gun Purchase in Pittsburgh
