Federal agents in Minneapolis have used tear gas and pepper spray in confrontations with residents and protesters as pushback continues to grow in the days following the death of Renee Good.
The escalation followed a shooting in which a federal officer shot a Venezuelan man who the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says fled a traffic stop and attacked the officer, according to NBC News.
The DHS said federal officers were conducting “a targeted traffic stop” at about 6:50 p.m. on January 14 when they stopped a man from Venezuela who was in the United States illegally. DHS said the man drove away, crashed into a parked car, and then ran on foot.
After the officer caught up with him, two other individuals emerged from a nearby apartment and joined the confrontation.
“Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life,” DHS said.
The man was hit in the leg and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The officer involved was also transported to hospital, though the extent of their injuries is not known. The two other individuals involved were arrested after barricading themselves inside the apartment.
Following the shooting, federal agents and Minneapolis Police Department personnel confronted protesters near the scene. Demonstrators reportedly threw snowballs and fireworks at officers, prompting authorities to deploy chemical irritants including tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowds.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described the gathering as an unlawful assembly and urged people to “leave immediately.”
“This is already a very tense situation, and we do not need this to escalate any further,” he said.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said state investigators were on site and appealed for calm.
“I know you’re angry. I’m angry. What Donald Trump wants is violence in the streets. But Minnesota will remain an island of decency, of justice, of community, and of peace. Don’t give him what he wants,” Walz said.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the situation was “not sustainable” and called for peaceful protests.
“This is an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in. And at the same time, we are trying to find a way forward to keep people safe, to protect our neighbors, to maintain order. And we’re in a position right now where we have residents that are asking the very limited number of police officers that we have to fight ICE agents on the street to stand by their neighbors. We cannot be at a place right now in America where we have two governmental entities that are literally fighting one another,” he said.
Frey added, “So let’s be very clear. I’ve seen conduct from ICE that is disgusting and is intolerable. If it were your city, it would be unacceptable there too and 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. And I have seen thousands of people throughout our city peacefully protesting. For those that have peacefully protested, I applaud you. For those that are taking the bait, you are not helping and you are not helping the undocumented immigrants in our city.”
City officials said investigations are ongoing, and authorities continue to monitor the area while managing the protests. The City of Minneapolis reiterated its support for immigrant and refugee communities and demanded that ICE leave the city and state.
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