<p class="speakable"><strong>FIRST ON FOX:</strong> A man accused of shooting a <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/us-regions/southeast/south-carolina" rel="noopener" target="_blank">South Carolina</a> deputy in the chest during an early-morning traffic stop has been identified as a criminal illegal immigrant with a prior deportation and felony illegal re-entry conviction, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). </p><p class="speakable">DHS officials told Fox News Digital that Charleston County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) deputies responded to a call for shots fired shortly after 9 p.m. on Feb. 10 on Johns Island.</p><p>They were unable to find the suspect, later identified as Floriberto Perez-Nieto, a <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/immigration/illegal-immigrants" rel="noopener" target="_blank">criminal illegal immigrant</a> from Mexico.</p><p>At about 3 a.m. the next day, deputies received another call from the same person, who reported Perez-Nieto had returned to the area.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dhs-urges-newsom-honor-ice-detainers-after-federal-agent-assaulted-while-arresting-illegal-alien-jail" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong>DHS URGES NEWSOM TO HONOR ICE DETAINERS AFTER FEDERAL AGENT ASSAULTED WHILE ARRESTING ILLEGAL ALIEN AT JAIL</strong></a></p><p>Deputies spotted Perez-Nieto's car and attempted to pull him over, but he tried to evade arrest and shot <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/crime/police-and-law-enforcement" rel="noopener" target="_blank">one of the deputies</a> in the chest, according to authorities. </p><p>Other deputies returned fire and Perez-Nieto was later pronounced dead at the hospital. </p><p>DHS officials said the deputy who was shot in the chest was wearing body armor.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dhs-arrests-worst-worst-illegal-migrants-including-murderers-pedophiles-weekend-operation" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong>DHS ARRESTS 'WORST OF THE WORST' ILLEGAL MIGRANTS, INCLUDING MURDERERS AND PEDOPHILES, IN WEEKEND OPERATION</strong></a></p><p>"This criminal illegal alien illegally obtained a firearm and nearly killed a law enforcement officer," DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital. "Thankfully, the officer’s body armor saved his life. There could have been quite a different tragic outcome for this officer and his family."</p><p>The deputy who was shot has not yet been publicly identified by authorities.</p><p>Perez-Nieto was previously arrested after he illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico, at an unknown date and location, and without inspection by an immigration official, according to DHS.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/exclusive-illegal-immigrant-released-biden-catch-and-release-allegedly-kills-driver-police-chase" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong>EXCLUSIVE: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT RELEASED UNDER BIDEN 'CATCH-AND-RELEASE' ALLEGEDLY KILLS DRIVER IN POLICE CHASE</strong></a></p><p>He was subsequently removed from the U.S. on Feb. 20, 2019. </p><p>Officials said he committed a felony by illegally re-entering the country at an unknown date and time.</p><p>It is unclear where Perez-Nieto allegedly <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/personal-freedoms/second-amendment" rel="noopener" target="_blank">obtained the firearm</a>.</p><p>The CCSO professional standards division will conduct an <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/politics/finance/investigations" rel="noopener" target="_blank">internal investigation</a> related to the shooting.</p><p><a href="https://foxnews.onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP</strong></a></p><p>Deputies involved have been placed on paid administrative leave, pending further review, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.</p><p>The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division was immediately notified, responded to the scene and will lead the investigation.</p>