Federal agents wrestle with a man in south Minneapolis before shooting him
Federal agents shot and killed a man in south Minneapolis on Saturday morning, igniting fresh outrage in a city still grappling with the recent shooting death of Renée Good by an ICE officer earlier this month.
Escalating Tensions in Minneapolis
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A video posted to social media shows several agents subduing the man before a gunshot rings out, followed by multiple shots fired as he lay motionless on the sidewalk. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told the Star Tribune that the victim, a 37-year-old white resident of the city, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Department of Homeland Security released a statement on X claiming the victim approached US Border Patrol officers while armed with a semiautomatic handgun and two magazines. According to the statement, officers attempted to disarm the suspect, but he “violently resisted,” prompting an agent to fire defensive shots “fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers.” (The DHS statement remains unverified, and the agency has previously provided unreliable accounts of violent incidents involving federal agents, as reported by the New York Times and CNN.)
Protests Erupt, Tear Gas Deployed
Live footage shared on social media depicted a growing crowd of protesters gathering at the shooting site, met by a heightened federal presence and local police attempting to establish a perimeter. Agents reportedly deployed multiple tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.
The Star Tribune reported that several witnesses were detained. ICE agents reportedly ordered Minneapolis police to leave the scene, but Chief O’Hara refused, directing officers to preserve the area as a crime scene.
Calls for Federal Withdrawal
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted on social media that he had spoken with the White House following the shooting, stating, “Minnesota has had it. This is sickening. The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.”
Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) both posted on X, demanding that ICE withdraw from the state.
“How many more Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?” Minneapolis Mayor Frey asked during a Saturday afternoon press conference. “A great American city is being invaded by its own federal government.”
“To president Trump, this is a moment to act like a leader. Put Minnesota, put America first in this moment,” he continued.
A Pattern of Violence
This marks the second time in just over two weeks that federal agents have fatally shot someone in Minneapolis amid President Donald Trump’s intensified crackdown in the city. ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot Renée Good on January 7 as she attempted to drive away from a confrontation between agents and local residents, sparking widespread protests and condemnation from state and local officials. The shooting occurred one day after a historic general strike brought business to a standstill in Minneapolis, with solidarity rallies held in other major cities.
This is a developing story, and this article has been revised and updated based on new information.
