MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis after being attacked with a shovel and broom handle, further heightening the sense of fear and anger radiating across the city a week after an immigration agent fatally shot a woman in the head.
Smoke filled the street Wednesday night near the site of the latest shooting as federal officers wearing gas masks and helmets fired tear gas into a small crowd while protesters threw rocks and shot fireworks. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara declared the gathering an unlawful assembly, urging people to disperse.
Protests have surged in Minneapolis since January 7, when Renee Good was killed by a federal agent amid increased immigration crackdowns. Community members have demanded the withdrawal of federal agents, claiming that their aggressive tactics are exacerbating tensions.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey labeled the current situation “unsustainable,” citing that the federal force outnumbers the city’s police force by five times, leading to feelings of invasion among residents. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security has reported over 2,000 arrests connected to its operations in the region since December.
In the hours preceding the shooting, a suspect fleeing from immigration enforcement crashed into a parked car. As federal officers closed in, they were reportedly attacked by onlookers. In response to the escalating violence, the officers felt compelled to fire a defensive shot.
This incident has also triggered legal discussions, with local government officials calling for a pause in the aggressive enforcement tactics. They argue that the federal actions violate constitutional rights and have requested that federal courts intervene to manage immigration enforcement practices in the region.
O’Hara confirmed that the individual who was shot is undergoing treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. The incident took place in close proximity to where Good was killed, highlighting a string of violent confrontations associated with the federal immigration crackdown that many residents perceive as societal upheaval.
Smoke filled the street Wednesday night near the site of the latest shooting as federal officers wearing gas masks and helmets fired tear gas into a small crowd while protesters threw rocks and shot fireworks. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara declared the gathering an unlawful assembly, urging people to disperse.
Protests have surged in Minneapolis since January 7, when Renee Good was killed by a federal agent amid increased immigration crackdowns. Community members have demanded the withdrawal of federal agents, claiming that their aggressive tactics are exacerbating tensions.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey labeled the current situation “unsustainable,” citing that the federal force outnumbers the city’s police force by five times, leading to feelings of invasion among residents. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security has reported over 2,000 arrests connected to its operations in the region since December.
In the hours preceding the shooting, a suspect fleeing from immigration enforcement crashed into a parked car. As federal officers closed in, they were reportedly attacked by onlookers. In response to the escalating violence, the officers felt compelled to fire a defensive shot.
This incident has also triggered legal discussions, with local government officials calling for a pause in the aggressive enforcement tactics. They argue that the federal actions violate constitutional rights and have requested that federal courts intervene to manage immigration enforcement practices in the region.
O’Hara confirmed that the individual who was shot is undergoing treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. The incident took place in close proximity to where Good was killed, highlighting a string of violent confrontations associated with the federal immigration crackdown that many residents perceive as societal upheaval.
