ICE Officer Shoots Venezuelan Man in Leg During Arrest in Minneapolis as Mob Descends on Scene

Chaos erupted in Minneapolis on Wednesday evening after a federal immigration officer shot and wounded a Venezuelan man in the leg during an attempted arrest that escalated into a violent confrontation and prompted a large crowd to descend on the scene, authorities said.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the incident occurred around 6:50 p.m. when agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attempted a targeted traffic stop involving a man DHS described as an undocumented migrant from Venezuela. Officials said the suspect fled the stop in his vehicle, crashed into a parked car, and then ran on foot.

DHS stated that an ICE officer caught up with the suspect and attempted to apprehend him, at which point a struggle ensued. During the altercation, two additional individuals allegedly emerged from a nearby apartment and attacked the officer using a 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,” DHS said in a statement. The initial suspect was struck in the leg and remains hospitalized in stable condition. The officer was also taken to a hospital for treatment, while the two alleged attackers were taken into custody.

In the moments following the shooting, a crowd estimated at up to 100 people gathered in the area, with protesters reportedly using horns and whistles. Law enforcement officers wearing protective gear deployed tear gas and flash bangs in an effort to disperse the crowd.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey urged protesters to leave the area, warning that escalating tensions were worsening an already volatile situation.

“It is not helpful. Go home,” Frey said. “We cannot counter chaos with our own chaos. You are not helping undocumented immigrants or the people who live here.”

By approximately 10:38 p.m., local outlet KARE reported that the scene had largely cleared and authorities had begun leaving the area.

The incident unfolded roughly 4.5 miles north of where Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot by an ICE agent one week earlier during a separate encounter. That shooting has sparked widespread protests and intensified scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics in Minneapolis.

In the days since Good’s death, the city has experienced heightened unrest, with critics accusing the Department of Homeland Security of overreach and dangerous tactics. City and state officials have pointed to additional recent encounters involving ICE agents as fueling public anger.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the officer’s actions Wednesday, reiterating that the agent fired only after being attacked.

“The officer feared for his life and fired a defensive shot to protect himself,” McLaughlin said.

She also criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Frey, accusing them of encouraging resistance against federal law enforcement. McLaughlin claimed assaults against federal officers have increased by more than 1,300 percent nationwide.

DHS further stated that more than 2,000 ICE agents have been deployed to Minneapolis as part of a broader immigration enforcement surge. ICE officials said at least 60 individuals have been arrested in recent days for allegedly interfering with or assaulting federal agents.

Meanwhile, Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have blamed the Trump administration for escalating tensions and have filed a lawsuit seeking to block the ongoing federal immigration enforcement operation.

The investigation into Wednesday’s shooting remains ongoing.