A federal law enforcement officer shot a Venezuelan immigrant in the leg during a chaotic arrest attempt in Minneapolis on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, marking the second such incident in the city in a week and triggering immediate public outrage.
Struggle During Traffic Stop Leads to Shooting
According to a statement from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), agents were attempting a targeted traffic stop on a man described as an illegal alien from Venezuela who was released into the country in 2022. The DHS claimed the individual tried to evade arrest, fleeing in his vehicle before crashing into a parked car and continuing on foot.
The DHS stated that when an agent caught up with the man, a physical struggle ensued. The situation escalated when two other individuals emerged from a nearby apartment and allegedly attacked the officer with a snow shovel and a broom handle.
"Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life. The initial subject was hit in the leg," the DHS said. All three individuals then barricaded themselves in an apartment but were later detained.
City Leaders Clash Over Federal Actions
The shooting occurred against a highly charged backdrop, coming just one week after the fatal police shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, which had already sparked widespread protests.
In a fiery press conference on Wednesday night, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey addressed protesters, some of whom he accused of "taking the bait." He criticised the conduct of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, stating, "I've seen conduct from ICE that is disgusting and is intolerable." He urged those not protesting peacefully to go home.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, speaking shortly before the latest incident was reported, called on the Trump administration to "end this occupation." The DHS press release directly blamed Governor Walz and Mayor Frey for the incident.
Protests Erupt and Turn Confrontational
Community members gathered quickly at the scene to show solidarity. One woman told CNN she had witnessed multiple raids in her apartment complex since Good's death, saying, "I can’t be outside without being scared... because of the way I look."
The protest escalated as heavily armed Border Patrol agents arrived in military-style vehicles. Demonstrators reportedly threw snowballs and set off fireworks, prompting agents to retreat. ICE agents in an unmarked SUV later sprayed chemicals at protesters who approached them, according to The New York Times.
CNN reported that authorities deployed several flash-bang grenades and multiple tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara declared the gathering an unlawful assembly, citing projectiles like fireworks, ice, and rocks being thrown at officers.
Both the arresting officer and the wounded Venezuelan man were hospitalised for treatment. The two other individuals involved in the alleged assault are in custody.
