A federal law enforcement officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis after being assaulted with a shovel while attempting to carry out an arrest, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has said.
According to a statement posted on X, the shooting took place on Wednesday following a vehicle pursuit involving a Venezuelan national who authorities say was in the United States illegally.
DHS said the chase ended in a crash, after which the driver exited the vehicle and became involved in a physical confrontation with the officer. Two additional individuals then joined the altercation, with all three allegedly attacking the officer.
The department said the man who was shot was taken to hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The incident occurred amid already heightened tensions in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent last week, an event that sparked protests in the city and elsewhere across the US.
On Wednesday night, demonstrations escalated into clashes between protesters and law enforcement in the Hawthorne neighbourhood, close to where the shooting occurred.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said officers responding to the unrest were targeted with fireworks, ice and snowballs. Local outlets, including the Minnesota Star Tribune, reported that several vehicles believed to belong to federal agencies were damaged during the disorder.
Trump threatens Insurrection Act
In a social media post early Thursday, President Donald Trump warned that he could invoke the Insurrection Act if Minnesota officials failed to act against what he described as “professional agitators”.
The legislation, which dates back more than 200 years, allows the president to deploy active-duty military forces for domestic law enforcement. Trump has previously indicated he may use the law in response to civil unrest in other parts of the country.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the situation in the city was “unsustainable”, criticising the deployment of federal agents against the wishes of local authorities.
DHS account of the shooting
DHS said both the wounded man and an ICE officer were taken to hospital for treatment following the confrontation.
In its account, the department said that after the vehicle pursuit, the suspect exited his car and struggled with the officer on the ground. During the altercation, two people allegedly came out of a nearby apartment and joined the attack, striking the officer with a snow shovel and a broom handle.
“As the officer was being ambushed and attacked by the two individuals, the original subject broke free and also began striking the officer,” the statement said.
DHS said the officer, fearing for his life while being attacked by three people, fired his weapon in self-defence. The department added that both additional attackers are now in custody.
Barricade and arrest operation
Law enforcement officials who spoke to the BBC’s US partner, CBS News, provided further details about what happened after the shooting.
They said the wounded suspect fled into a nearby home and barricaded himself inside with three other individuals. Additional federal agents were called to the scene, and a specialised ICE unit later forced entry into the residence. All individuals inside the house were believed to have been taken into custody.
Federal response and political reaction
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters at the White House on Thursday that the injured officer was receiving medical care.
“Our agent is bruised and injured, but we are grateful he survived,” she said, adding that ICE officers were operating under procedures that had been in place for years, predating the current administration.
Around 3,000 federal officers have been deployed to Minnesota in recent weeks.
Responding to reports of the shooting, US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on X that the unrest was the result of failures by Minnesota’s leadership, accusing state and city officials of encouraging violence against law enforcement.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged restraint, calling on President Trump to de-escalate tensions.
“Let’s turn the temperature down,” he wrote on X, appealing to residents to express their views peacefully. Walz said violence would only deepen the crisis.
Tensions in Minneapolis have remained high since the death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who was shot by an ICE agent on 7 January.
Federal authorities say the agent acted in self-defence, while local officials argue that Good posed no immediate threat. Video footage shows ICE agents approaching a vehicle stopped in the street. As Good attempted to drive away, an agent standing in front of the car fired three shots.
The FBI is investigating that incident.
Online fundraising efforts connected to the case have raised significant sums. A campaign for Good’s family has collected more than $1.4m, while a fundraiser for the ICE agent involved has raised about $740,000.
