A 37-year-old Minneapolis resident has died after being shot by a federal agent on Saturday morning, in the latest escalation of tensions between the city’s communities and federal law enforcement.
According to officials, the incident occurred in the area of 26th Street W and Nicollet Avenue. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has claimed the deceased man was an “illegal alien wanted for violent assault” who was in possession of a 9mm handgun when approached by agents. The agency alleges the man intended to “massacre law enforcement,” describing the shooting as “defensive.”
However, local authorities have painted a different picture. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has stated the man was an “American citizen” with a history of only minor traffic violations, and was a licensed gun owner. Governor Tim Walz has condemned the incident as “horrific,” calling on the White House to end the federal operation and withdraw “thousands of violent, untrained officers” from Minnesota.
Eyewitness video shows a group of agents wrestling with the man before at least ten shots were fired. The circumstances leading up to the shooting remain unclear. The man was reportedly shot in the chest and rushed to a nearby hospital, but later succumbed to his injuries.
The latest incident marks a continued escalation of tensions between local communities and federal agents acting on behalf of the DHS. It follows the shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Good earlier this month, which had already sparked widespread protests against the federal crackdown on immigration in the state.
In the wake of Saturday’s shooting, an angry crowd gathered at the scene, hurling profanities at federal officers and demanding they leave. One officer responded mockingly as he walked away, telling the protesters: “Boo hoo.”
The intersection has been blocked off, with Border Patrol agents wielding batons on the scene. It’s estimated that over 2,000 federal agents are currently scouring the streets of Minneapolis-St. Paul, detaining immigrants as part of what the DHS has described as its largest-ever immigration enforcement operation.
The incident has once again highlighted the growing divide between local authorities and federal law enforcement in Minnesota, with Governor Walz urging the White House to intervene and bring an end to the ongoing operation.
