Federal agent shoots Venezuelan man in leg during Minneapolis immigration stop

A federal law enforcement officer shot a Venezuelan man in the leg during a targeted immigration traffic stop in north Minneapolis, authorities said, and both the man and the officer were treated at hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The encounter, officials said, unfolded about 6:50 p.m. on Jan. 14 outside a residence north of downtown and prompted protests, confrontations with federal personnel and an active multiagency investigation.

Department of Homeland Security officials described the shooting as defensive. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said agents were attempting to arrest a man they believed was in the country illegally when he fled and an officer pursued him. According to federal accounts, the officer was ambushed and assaulted by three individuals during a struggle and fired defensive shots, striking the man in the leg. DHS said two others who allegedly joined the attack were taken into custody.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described a struggle outside a residence after the shooting. He said the wounded man retreated into the home and initially refused to exit; federal agents later entered the residence and removed him for transport to a hospital. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI were on scene to process evidence, and Minneapolis police secured the area as investigators collected material and interviewed witnesses. Officials have not released charges or a full timeline, and several elements of the federal account remain under review.

The operation took place amid heightened scrutiny and public outcry over earlier actions by immigration authorities in the city, including a Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good involving an ICE officer. Authorities placed the Jan. 14 scene near prior enforcement activity; reported distances to the Jan. 7 incident varied between roughly 4.5 and 12 miles. The earlier fatality prompted protests, additional federal deployments and legal action by Minnesota officials challenging an expanded enforcement operation known in filings as Operation Metro Surge.

Tensions around the Jan. 14 encounter escalated quickly. A crowd gathered near the scene, and officials reported clashes with federal officers that included protesters throwing fireworks and snowballs and officers deploying tear gas and grenades, producing visible smoke in the street. Minneapolis city officials urged calm and asked residents to disperse. Family members posted live video on social media seeking help after the shooting, according to officials.

Beyond immediate injuries and arrests, public health experts and community leaders caution that repeated confrontations and crowd-control tactics can have lasting health effects. Tear gas and similar agents can exacerbate respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chaotic scenes complicate safe access to care for injured people and bystanders. Migrant communities, already facing barriers to health services and fear of enforcement, may be less likely to seek timely treatment or report injuries, raising equity concerns for providers and public health planners.

Investigations by DHS, the Minnesota BCA, the FBI and Minneapolis police are ongoing. Officials said they will release further details as evidence is reviewed and medical and witness statements are corroborated. In a city already polarized over immigration enforcement, the shooting underscores the fraught intersection of policing, public health and community trust.