A Venezuelan woman who allegedly drove two gunmen to a Chicago mass shooting that killed three people walked free from jail under sanctuary city policies, only to be arrested months later by federal immigration agents after local authorities refused to notify ICE.

Released Despite Weapons Charges

Giovanna Mercedes Moreno Occhipinti, 32, allegedly transported Ricardo Granadillo Padilla and Edward Martinez Cermeno to the scene of a December 2, 2024 shooting on Chicago’s Southwest Side. The attack wounded five people and killed three others. Chicago police arrested Occhipinti three days later on unlawful weapons charges after finding multiple firearms in her vehicle. Authorities believe she helped the gunmen escape after the attack.

Cook County prosecutors declined to press charges against any of the three suspects. Under Chicago’s sanctuary policies protecting illegal immigrants from federal authorities, Occhipinti was released without ICE notification. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement finally detained her on May 13, 2025, more than five months after the shooting. She now awaits deportation from a Kentucky detention facility.

Visa Overstay and Gang Connection

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Occhipinti entered the United States in October 2021 through the Visa Waiver Program, which required her departure by January 2, 2022. She overstayed that authorization by nearly three years. Federal officials identified connections between the suspects and Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization. Martinez Cermeno had previously been released from ICE custody in January 2025 after a federal judge ruled prosecutors failed to prove detention was warranted pending trial. Both gunmen were eventually deported.

School District Refuses Cooperation

DHS officials revealed Occhipinti worked as a teacher at an unnamed school in Elgin, a Chicago suburb. Illinois state officials have refused to identify the school or cooperate with federal investigators. Acting DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis criticized sanctuary politicians for prioritizing illegal immigrants over public safety. HSI Chicago Special Agent Matthew Scarpino emphasized the severity of Occhipinti’s actions, noting her calculated role in facilitating three deaths. The case highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and sanctuary jurisdictions that limit cooperation with ICE, particularly when suspects face serious criminal allegations involving violence and firearms.