What began as a routine enforcement action on a Minneapolis street Wednesday night spiraled into a violent confrontation that sent a federal immigration officer to the hospital and left multiple suspects in custody.
According to Fox News, the Department of Homeland Security said a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent was injured during an attempted arrest of an illegal Venezuelan immigrant when multiple individuals suddenly ambushed him.
The incident unfolded as the agent attempted to conduct a traffic stop connected to the arrest effort.
DHS said the agent was confronted by two people during the stop and discharged his firearm because he was “fearing for his life and safety.”
The Venezuelan suspect was struck by gunfire during the encounter and later reported to be in stable condition. Authorities said he is now in custody.
Officials said the suspect initially attempted to evade arrest by driving away from the scene, but crashed into a parked vehicle. After abandoning the car, the suspect fled on foot.
According to DHS, the agent caught up to the suspect and attempted to place him under arrest. At that point, the suspect resisted and “violently assaulted the officer,” leading to a physical struggle.
The situation escalated when two additional individuals emerged from a nearby apartment and joined the altercation. DHS said those individuals attacked the agent using a snow shovel and a broom handle while the officer and suspect were engaged “in a struggle on the ground.”
During the chaos, the original suspect broke free and also began striking the agent with a shovel or broom handle, DHS said.
The agent then fired defensive shots, striking the suspect in the leg. Following the shooting, all three individuals barricaded themselves inside the apartment before eventually being taken into custody by authorities.
In a sharply worded statement, DHS linked the attack to political rhetoric from Minnesota leaders.
“This attack on another brave member of law enforcement took place while Minnesota’s top leaders, Governor Walz and Mayor Frey, are actively encouraging an organized resistance to ICE and federal law enforcement officers,” the department said.
The statement added that the leaders’ “hateful rhetoric and resistance against men and women who are simply trying to do their jobs must end.”
DHS also cited what it described as a surge in violence against federal officers.
“Federal law enforcement officers are facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest criminals and lawbreakers,” the department said.
The incident comes less than a week after another high-profile ICE encounter in Minneapolis, when Renee Nicole Good, 37, was fatally shot by an ICE agent after allegedly attempting to run him over with her vehicle.
The investigation remains ongoing, and DHS said additional details will be released as they become available.
