Protests erupted in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday night after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot a Venezuelan migrant during a federal traffic stop, barely a week after another ICE officer fatally shot a city resident, Renee Good.
The shooting occurred on the 600 block of 24th Avenue North, about 4.5 miles from the location where 37-year-old Good was killed by an ICE officer a week earlier, according to local media reports.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said federal officers were conducting a “targeted traffic stop” at about 6:50 p.m. on January 14 when they stopped a Venezuelan national who was in the United States illegally. DHS said the man fled the scene in his vehicle, crashed into a parked car and then attempted to escape on foot.
According to the agency, officers caught up with the suspect, who allegedly resisted arrest, while two other individuals emerged from a nearby apartment and joined the confrontation.
“Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life,” DHS said in a statement.
The City of Minneapolis confirmed that the man who was shot sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital. DHS said the ICE officer involved was also hospitalised, though the extent of the injuries was not disclosed. The two other individuals involved were arrested.
The incident triggered demonstrations near the scene, with protesters lighting fireworks and throwing snowballs at law enforcement officers. Authorities responded by deploying chemical irritants and flash-bang devices to disperse the crowd. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara declared the gathering an unlawful assembly and ordered protesters to leave the area.
“This is already a very tense situation, and we do not need this to escalate any further,” O’Hara said, adding that the Minneapolis Police Department secured the scene while the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the FBI began processing evidence.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz confirmed that state investigators were at the scene and appealed for calm, urging residents not to allow the situation to spiral into violence.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the situation as unsustainable and called for peaceful protests, while criticising the conduct of ICE and warning demonstrators against escalating tensions.
In a statement, the City of Minneapolis said it was aware of the anger and frustration within the community and again demanded that ICE leave the city and the state, reaffirming its support for immigrant and refugee communities.
Authorities said investigations by the BCA and the FBI were ongoing, as law enforcement continued efforts late into the night to manage the crowds and maintain order in the area.
