At a Glance
- A Venezuelan man was shot in the leg by an ICE agent during a targeted traffic stop in North Minneapolis on January 14, 2026.
- The agent fired after the man allegedly struck him with a shovel or broomstick while two others joined the assault.
- Protests erupted with fireworks, rocks, and police deploying gas; city leaders demanded ICE leave the state.
- Why it matters: Minneapolis faces its second ICE-involved shooting in a week, deepening tensions between federal agents and local officials.
An ICE agent shot a Venezuelan man in North Minneapolis, Minnesota, during a targeted traffic stop that escalated into a violent confrontation and sparked overnight protests, according to a Department of Homeland Security statement shared with News Of Los Angeles.
How the Traffic Stop Turned Violent
At 6:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, ICE officers stopped the man, described by DHS as an “illegal alien” who entered the U.S. in 2022. The agency says the driver tried to evade arrest, crashed into a parked car, and fled on foot.
When officers caught up, the man allegedly resisted and assaulted an agent. Two residents emerged from a nearby apartment and attacked the officer with a snow shovel and broom handle, DHS reports. During the struggle, the original suspect struck the agent with the same tools.
Fearing for his life, the agent fired one defensive round, hitting the Venezuelan man in the leg.
Barricade and Arrests
After the shot was fired, all three individuals retreated into the apartment and barricaded themselves, per DHS. Authorities breached the residence, provided medical aid, and transported the injured man to a hospital. The agent was also hospitalized; conditions for both have not been released.
The two other people involved are in custody.
City Demands ICE Exit
Minneapolis leaders reacted swiftly. The city posted on X:
- “We understand there is anger. We ask the public to remain calm.”
- “The City of Minneapolis again demands that ICE leave the city and state immediately. We stand by our immigrant and refugee communities – know that you have our full support.”
Protests and Clashes Overnight
Demonstrators gathered in the neighborhood, throwing fireworks, ice, and rocks at law-enforcement personnel. Police Chief Brian O’Hara said officers declared an unlawful assembly and deployed gas to disperse the crowd. Minnesota State Patrol, Hennepin County deputies, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension responded to the scene.
O’Hara urged protesters to leave: “This is already a very tense situation. We do not need this to escalate any further.”
Mayor Warns Against Escalation
Mayor Jacob Frey addressed the unrest alongside O’Hara:
- “For anyone that is taking the bait tonight, stop-that is not helpful, go home.”
- “We cannot counter Donald Trump’s chaos with our own brand of chaos.”
- “You are not helping the undocumented immigrants in our city.”
Frey called Minneapolis’s position “impossible,” caught between residents asking police to confront ICE and limited officer resources. He noted the city has filed litigation to halt ICE’s “massive deployment” but fears time is running out.
Second ICE Shooting in One Week
The incident follows the fatal shooting of Renee Good, 37, on January 7, when ICE agent Jonathan Ross opened fire as Good drove home from school drop-off with her wife. Her vehicle continued moving before crashing into a parked car.
Frey highlighted the frequency: “This is already the second shooting that we’ve had in a week. People are scared. The atmosphere is tense.”
Key Takeaways
- A single ICE defensive shot injured the Venezuelan suspect; no fatalities reported in this encounter.
- Local officials are openly defying federal enforcement, intensifying a legal and political standoff.
- Back-to-back shootings have put Minneapolis at the center of national immigration debate, with community safety hanging in the balance.
