Tensions erupted in Minneapolis after a woman was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer, leading to a furious public condemnation from the city's mayor and sparking protests.
Conflicting Accounts of a Fatal Encounter
The incident occurred on Wednesday 7 January 2026. According to a statement from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, the 37-year-old woman attempted to "weaponise" her vehicle and tried to run over an officer. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, fearing for his life, then fired defensive shots.
However, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey vehemently disputed this narrative in a press conference. Having viewed witness video, he called the official claims "bullshit" and accused ICE of pushing a "garbage narrative". In strong language, he told the federal agency to "get the f*** out" of the city.
The FBI has launched an investigation into the shooting, Minneapolis officials confirmed.
Video Evidence and Official Reactions
Video footage shared on social media appears to show officers approaching an SUV stopped in the road. After the vehicle begins to move, an ICE officer on the driver's side draws his weapon and fires two shots at close range into the vehicle. The SUV then collides with parked cars before crashing to a stop. The woman was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene.
Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department, Brian O'Hara, stated the woman had been using her car to block the roadway on Portland Avenue and was not the target of any law enforcement activity. He confirmed she was shot as the vehicle began to drive off.
The political fallout was immediate and starkly divided. On Truth Social, former President Donald Trump defended the ICE officer's actions as self-defence and blamed the "Radical Left". Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz promised a "full, fair, and expeditious investigation," urging the public not to believe the "propaganda machine."
Broader Context and Community Outcry
The shooting took place in a residential area just a mile from where George Floyd was killed in 2020, adding a potent historical context to the community's response. A large group of protesters gathered at the scene, expressing anger towards law enforcement.
The DHS revealed the shooting occurred during what it described as the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out in Minnesota, involving around 2,000 federal agents in the Minneapolis area. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem branded the woman's actions an "act of domestic terrorism."
Mayor Frey, however, argued that ICE's presence was damaging. "They are not here to cause safety in this city," he said. "What they are doing is causing chaos and distrust... They're ripping families apart. They're sowing chaos on our streets and in this case quite literally killing people."
