Tensions Escalate in Minneapolis After Federal Agent Shoots Man

Thu Jan 15 2026 14:56:46 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A recent shooting incident involving an ICE officer has heightened tensions in Minneapolis, already strained after the previous shooting of a woman by federal agents. Protests surge as citizens react to law enforcement actions.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot a man in the leg during a traffic stop in Minneapolis amid escalating protests following a recent fatal shooting of a local woman by another ICE agent. The unarmed man was reportedly shot after he attacked the officer with a shovel. Following the incident, protests erupted in the city, with local officials urging calm while also criticizing federal immigration enforcement presence in Minnesota. The FBI has launched an investigation into the incident as the community grapples with rising tensions stemming from immigration policies.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer has shot a man in the leg in the US city of Minneapolis, where tensions have been running high since an ICE agent shot dead a woman last week.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said federal officers were conducting a 'targeted traffic stop' when a Venezuelan national was shot after resisting arrest and assaulting an officer.

US officials told the BBC's partner CBS News the man was shot after an ICE officer was attacked with a shovel.

Fresh clashes broke out between protesters and law enforcement near the scene, and city officials appealed for calm. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the situation as 'unsustainable.'

Tensions over immigration enforcement have been high in the city since the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent on January 7. Her death sparked protests in Minneapolis that spread to multiple other US cities.

The man shot was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and an ICE officer was also hospitalized for injuries, according to the DHS.

The recent shooting prompted renewed clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. Minneapolis police chief Brian O'Hara reported that officers were hit by fireworks, ice, and snowballs during the unrest.

City officials stated on social media, 'We understand there is anger. We ask the public to remain calm.' They added, 'The City of Minneapolis again demands that ICE leave the city and state immediately.'

Regarding Wednesday's incident, a DHS statement explained that the man exited his vehicle, leading to an altercation with an ICE official. It also stated that during the incident, two other individuals emerged from a nearby building and allegedly attacked the officer. In response, the officer fired defensive shots, with two attackers now in custody.

The FBI is investigating the incident, as city leaders accuse federal officers of creating chaos. About 3,000 federal officers have been deployed to Minnesota recently.

Officials have offered differing accounts regarding the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, with the Trump administration claiming the ICE agent acted in self-defense, while local officials insist she posed no danger. Videos of the incident show ICE agents approaching a vehicle on the street before shots were fired, while Minneapolis leaders assert Good was a legal observer rather than an agitator.

A fundraiser for Good's family has raised over $1.4 million. In a response to the shooting, US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche attributed the unrest directly to the state’s leadership, stating it reflects a failure in governance. Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged President Trump to end ICE's presence in the state, expressing frustration with the ongoing situation.