A Kentucky teenager has died while defending his mother from an alleged assault by an illegal immigrant, according to officials.
Luis Jocsan Nanez Lopez, 15, was shot and killed in the July 20 attack.
The alleged attacker has been identified as Gildardo Amandor-Martinez, the mother's boyfriend.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Amandor-Martinez is a Mexican national who attempted to enter the country three times in 2021 at the southern border. He successfully illegally entered the United States on his third attempt at an unknown date and location and without being inspected by an immigration officer, DHS said.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed an arrest detainer on the alleged attacker. ICE detainers are legal requests to state or local law enforcement to hold illegal immigrants in custody until they can be turned over to immigration authorities.
Amandor-Martinez is being held at the Rowan County Detention Center. It's unclear if he has retained legal representation.
The school said in a statement that it was saddened to lose one of its own.
The teen's sister was also shot and injured in the alleged attack, but survived.
The investigation remains ongoing. Local authorities said more details on the case will be released at a later time.
DHS noted that Secretary Kristi Noem relaunched the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement office to support victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants. The office was "shuttered" by the Biden administration and left victims without key support services and resources, DHS said. The office was first launched in 2017 during President Donald Trump's first term.
The move to relaunch the office is part of the Trump administration's nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration.