Federal agents arrested an illegal alien former Illinois teacher for her alleged ties to a 2024 mass shooting last month, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statement Monday.
Officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended Giovanna Mercedes Moreno Occhipinti, 32, in a May 13 nighttime operation, according to the statement. The Venezuelan native, who has dual citizenship in Italy, allegedly drove two gunmen involved in a Tren de Aragua shooting at a Chicago house party in December 2024. The incident left three people dead and several others injured, according to DHS.
Chicago police allegedly found weapons in Moreno Occhipinti’s car right after the crime occurred. Authorities suspect she assisted Granadillo Padilla and Martinez Cermeno, the alleged shooters, in avoiding police after the incident, according to the statement. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Ralph Norman Proposes ICE Database To Track ‘Worst Of The Worst’ Illegals)
The Chicago Police Department put Moreno Occhipinti behind bars Dec. 5 on charges of “unlawful use of weapons” and “weapons offense,” according to the statement. Chicago authorities later released without informing ICE and the Cook County State Attorney’s office decided it would not prosecute suspects involved in the shooting, DHS alleged. ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations Chicago took up the case after their decision.
“This illegal alien who used to work as a teacher was involved in a mass shooting in Chicago that killed three people and injured others,” DHS Acting Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Lauren Bis said in the statement. “Under President [Donald] Trump and Secretary [Markwayne] Mullin, DHS is doing the job that sanctuary politicians in Illinois refuse to do: putting the American people first and removing these dangerous criminals from our communities.”
.@ICEgov ARRESTED an illegal alien former teacher wanted for her involvement in a TDA MASS SHOOTING.
Giovanna Mercedes Moreno Occhipinti, a former Illinois teacher and an illegal alien from Venezuela, assisted in a December 2024 Tren de Aragua MASS SHOOTING at a Chicago house… pic.twitter.com/couLnoijRT
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) June 22, 2026
HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino praised the agents for the capture. “Giovanna Mercedes Moreno Occhipinti’s actions were calculated and deliberate, leading to the loss of three lives,” Scarpino said.
“I’m proud of our agents for pursuing this case to the end, ensuring that everyone who helped facilitate this mass homicide is brought to justice,” he added.
Moreno Occhipinti came into the country in October 2021 through the Visa Waiver Program. Although the program mandated that she leave by January 2, 2022, she illegally stayed, according to DHS. Occhipinti worked as a teacher at a school in Elgin, a Chicago suburb, the department told Fox News Digital. Illinois officials reportedly refused to reveal which school she taught at to federal authorities.
Federal authorities are holding Moreno Occhipinti pending removal, according to the statement. Padilla and Carmeno were allegedly apprehended and deported before.
The Daily Caller reached out to the Chicago Police Department and the Cooke County State Attorney’s Office for comment.