A federal officer shot a Venezuelan man during what the Department of Homeland Security described as an “ambush” in Minneapolis on Tuesday evening.
At a Glance
- A federal officer conducted a targeted traffic stop at 6:50 p.m. local time
- The man fled, crashed, and was chased on foot
- Two apartment residents joined the assault on the officer using a snow shovel and broom handle
- The officer fired defensive shots, hitting the man in the leg
- Both the injured man and the officer were hospitalized
- Why it matters: The incident highlights the dangers federal officers face during routine enforcement actions
The encounter began when the officer initiated a targeted traffic stop. The driver, identified by the department as a Venezuelan national in the country illegally, left the scene in his vehicle. The car soon collided with a parked vehicle, prompting the man to abandon it and flee on foot.
As the officer pursued, the man turned and assaulted him. During the struggle, two individuals emerged from a nearby apartment and attacked the officer with household items-a snow shovel and a broom handle-according to the department’s statement.
The original suspect broke free from the officer’s grip, grabbed either a shovel or a broomstick, and joined the assault.
“Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired defensive shots to defend his life,” the department stated. The Venezuelan man sustained a gunshot wound to his leg.
Following the shooting, all three men retreated into the apartment, barricading themselves inside. Law enforcement units later took them into custody without further incident.
Both the man who was shot and the federal officer received medical treatment at a local hospital. The department has not released additional details regarding their conditions or the identities of those involved.
The incident remains under investigation. Olivia M. Hartwell reported for News Of Los Angeles.
