Federal immigration agents shot a man and deployed crowd control munitions during an operation in Minneapolis on Wednesday evening, escalating tensions in a city already on edge following a fatal shooting by an officer last week.
Shooting During Targeted Enforcement Action
The incident occurred in north Minneapolis at approximately 7:00 PM local time. According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), officers from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were conducting a targeted traffic stop on an individual described as an "illegal alien from Venezuela."
The DHS claimed the person resisted and attacked the officer, and that two other individuals emerged from a nearby apartment and also assaulted the agent. The officer then fired a defensive shot, striking one man in the leg. Sources confirmed to the Guardian that the victim sustained non-fatal injuries.
Witnesses reported seeing federal agents deploy smoke and flash bombs at the scene, which was attended by dozens of observers from legal aid and monitoring groups.
A City Under Strain
This latest shooting comes as Minneapolis continues to reel from the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent just days earlier. The DHS asserted that Good attacked the agent, a claim seemingly contradicted by video evidence showing her driving away.
In response to widespread protests, the Trump administration has deployed a surge of federal officers to the city—described by officials as the largest in DHS history. These agents have repeatedly used aggressive tactics against demonstrators, including tear gas, pepper balls, and stun grenades.
Minnesota's governor, Tim Walz, addressed the state earlier on Wednesday, condemning the federal actions. "Armed, masked, undertrained ICE agents are going door-to-door, ordering people to point out where their neighbors of color live," Walz stated. He urged residents to record interactions as evidence for future prosecution, declaring "accountability is coming, in the voting booth and in court."
Official Statements and Unanswered Questions
The city of Minneapolis confirmed it was aware of "a shooting involving federal law enforcement" and was working to gather details. The DHS posted its account on social media platform X, but the Guardian has not independently verified its claims.
The DHS has defended its agents, stating they operate under federal immunity and face increasing violence from activists. However, the continued heavy-handed presence and this latest shooting have deepened the rift between the community and federal authorities.
Key details remain unclear, including the identities of those involved and the precise chain of events leading to the gunfire. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a direct request for comment from the Guardian.
