A shooting incident involving federal law enforcement actions occurred in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Wednesday (January 7). A female driver was shot and killed after allegedly ramming her car into federal agents. The Department of Homeland Security stated that the woman attempted to kill law enforcement officers.
The incident took place at the intersection of East 34th Street and Portland Avenue in Minneapolis. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were conducting targeted searches when they were obstructed by some members of the public. Reports indicated that a female driver attempted to ram into the agents.
Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stated that a “rioter” weaponized her vehicle, deliberately rammed into and attempted to kill federal agents, an act classified by the federal government as “domestic terrorism.”
According to eyewitness accounts, federal agents fired their weapons after being threatened. A black SUV at the scene collided with a utility pole, with bullet holes on the windshield and bloodstains inside the vehicle. Witnesses observed medical personnel performing CPR on the suspect in the snow, but she was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital.
Federal authorities confirmed that no ICE agents were injured at the scene.
The conflict occurred during a sensitive time when the federal government initiated the “largest immigration enforcement operation in history” in Minnesota. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons previously confirmed that, with the cooperation of National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the federal government had deployed significant resources to the region.
Known as “Operation Metro Surge,” the mission aims to investigate up to $9 billion in welfare fraud cases and apprehend undocumented individuals with criminal records.
Following the incident, a large group of protesters gathered at the scene. Federal law enforcement officers used pepper spray and other non-lethal weapons to disperse individuals who were throwing snowballs at officials. Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota issued a statement urging the public to remain calm and stated that the state government is actively collecting information.
It is worth noting that Governor Walz announced on Monday (January 5) that he would not seek reelection, citing exhaustion due to the ongoing fraud scandal investigation in the state. Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis expressed anger over the shooting incident and publicly demanded that federal law enforcement officers leave the city immediately.
Currently, a task force composed of multiple federal agencies including the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Small Business Administration, is investigating a fraud network involving the Somali community. Since the operation began, federal agents have made over 1,000 arrests in the state.
Local law enforcement and sheriff’s offices have deployed personnel to the scene of the shooting to help maintain order, while the specific details of the incident are still under further investigation.