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Minneapolis police confirmed Saturday evening that a man shot by federal immigration agents during an enforcement operation in south Minneapolis has died, marking the latest escalation in tensions between federal authorities and Minnesota officials over Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities in the state.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara told the Minnesota Star Tribune that the man died following the shooting, which occurred around midmorning at 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue. Video footage from inside a nearby donut shop captured federal agents wrestling the man to the ground before shooting him multiple times. Department of Homeland Security officials told CBS News the individual had a firearm.
The shooting triggered immediate confrontation between protesters and federal agents at the scene, prompting law enforcement to establish a wide perimeter. Minneapolis police called in all available officers except the overnight shift and canceled scheduled days off as witnesses were transported for interviews and state investigators prepared to examine the scene.
Chief O'Hara refused ICE demands to remove Minneapolis officers from the shooting scene and instead instructed his personnel to preserve evidence, according to sources. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was dispatched to investigate.
Minnesota State Patrol units arrived to separate protesters from federal agents as demonstrations intensified throughout the afternoon. At least one flash-bang device detonated and law enforcement deployed tear gas to push back crowds. Protesters erected barricades using dumpsters and restaurant furniture to block surrounding streets.
Gov. Tim Walz said he spoke with White House officials following the incident. "Minnesota has had it. This is sickening," Walz wrote on social media. "The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now."
The fatal shooting occurred one day after an estimated 50,000 people marched through downtown Minneapolis demanding the removal of federal immigration enforcement from the city. The demonstration, which began near U.S. Bank Stadium and concluded with a rally at Target Center, represented one of the largest protests against federal immigration operations in recent years.
Organizers had also called for a general strike Friday, encouraging Minnesota residents to abstain from work, school and shopping to demonstrate opposition to the federal presence. Teachers reported students expressing fear about daily activities including waiting for buses and traveling in vehicles due to increased immigration enforcement.
Minneapolis city officials urged the public to avoid the area around the shooting and "remain calm" as the situation developed. More than 100 observers and protesters gathered at the scene throughout the day, separated from federal agents by police tape and law enforcement personnel.
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