An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer has shot a man in the leg in the US city of Minneapolis, where tensions have been running high since an ICE agent shot dead a woman last week.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that federal officers were conducting a targeted traffic stop when a Venezuelan national was shot after resisting arrest and assaulting an officer.
US officials informed CBS News that the man was shot after an ICE officer was attacked with a shovel.
Fresh clashes broke out between protesters and law enforcement near the scene, prompting city officials—including Mayor Jacob Frey—to appeal for calm, labeling the situation as unsustainable.
Tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the city have escalated, particularly following the shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent on January 7. Her death initiated protests across Minneapolis and other US cities.
The man shot during the latest incident was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, while the ICE officer also required medical treatment.
City officials have expressed understanding of public anger and have called for calm, stating that they demand ICE to leave Minneapolis immediately.
In a detailed DHS statement, the agency explained that the man exited his car, leading to an altercation with an ICE officer. Two other individuals allegedly emerged from a nearby apartment to assist the man, prompting the officer to fire shots in self-defense. Both attackers were later taken into custody.
Minneapolis Mayor Frey has accused federal agents of exacerbating the chaos, as approximately 3,000 federal officers have been deployed to Minnesota in recent weeks, amid persistent protests and calls for accountability.
