Minneapolis Braces for Unrest Following Third Fatal Shooting by Federal Agents

2026-01-25 politics

Minneapolis, Saturday, 24 January 2026.
Tensions escalate in Minneapolis after federal agents killed an armed resident Saturday—the third enforcement-related death this month—igniting protests and prompting urgent pleas for peace.

Federal Operations Shift Focus to Midwest Flashpoint

While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently initiated “Operation Catch of the Day” in Maine [https://wsnext.com/c19e982-Immigration-enforcement-Homeland-Security/], the enforcement campaign has reached a deadly flashpoint in the Midwest. On Saturday, January 24, 2026, agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) fatally shot a 37-year-old man in Minneapolis, marking a severe escalation in the standoff between state Democratic leaders and the Trump administration [1][3]. The incident occurred at approximately 9:05 a.m. CT near West 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, an area known locally as “Eat Street” [3][8]. According to a DHS spokesperson, agents were conducting a targeted operation against a suspect wanted for violent assault when an individual approached them brandishing a 9mm semi-automatic handgun [3][5]. DHS alleges the man “violently resisted” disarmament attempts, prompting an agent to fire defensive shots [3][5]. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara identified the deceased as a white Minneapolis resident and a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry [3][6].

Escalating Violence and Civil Unrest

The shooting immediately triggered civil unrest in a city already on edge. Following the gunfire, a crowd of approximately 200 demonstrators gathered at the scene, leading to clashes where federal agents deployed chemical irritants and flash bangs to disperse the group [2][3]. Chief O’Hara, who confirmed the recovery of a firearm and two magazines at the scene, publicly urged the populace to remain peaceful to prevent property destruction, though the State Patrol eventually declared the gathering an “unlawful assembly” [1][3]. This fatality represents the third shooting involving federal agents in the Twin Cities in just 17 days, following the January 7 fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer and the non-fatal shooting of a Venezuelan migrant on January 23 [6][7]. In response to the intensifying violence, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Minnesota and legal partners filed a class-action lawsuit, Hussen v. Noem, on January 23, challenging the constitutionality of the administration’s enforcement tactics, which they allege involve racial profiling and warrantless arrests [8].

Political Firestorm: “Invasion” vs. “Insurrection”

The violence has deepened the partisan fissure between Minnesota’s Democratic leadership and the White House. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) condemned the operation as “sickening,” demanding that President Trump immediately remove “thousands of violent, untrained officers” from the state [1][6]. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) echoed these sentiments, characterizing the federal crackdown as an “invasion” and questioning how many more residents must die before the operation ceases [5]. Conversely, the Trump administration has framed the resistance as criminal obstruction. Stephen Miller, an advisor to the President, characterized the deceased individual as a “domestic terrorist” who attempted to assassinate federal law enforcement [5]. Miller accused the state’s Democratic leadership of fanning the “flames of insurrection” to halt the deportation of undocumented immigrants [5]. Meanwhile, House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) called for cooperation, noting she had spoken with Vice President Vance regarding better coordination between federal and local officials [7].

Sources

Immigration enforcement Civil unrest