Federal agents deployed tear gas and chemical irritants to disperse crowds gathered near the scene where they had fatally shot a man during an attempted detention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 24 January 2026. The incident has ignited fresh waves of protest and condemnation in a city already reeling from federal immigration enforcement operations.
Second Fatal Shooting by Federal Agents in Three Weeks
The 37-year-old US citizen was shot and killed by federal agents at approximately 9am on Saturday in an area known as Eat Street, a corridor featuring numerous immigrant-owned restaurants and businesses. Eyewitnesses observed and recorded the agents' actions as they unfolded. This marks the second such killing in Minneapolis within a brief period, following the death of 37-year-old Renee Good, who was shot by a federal agent in south Minneapolis on 7 January.
Immediate Aftermath and Public Outrage
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, dozens of federal agents repeatedly fired chemical agents into the air and directly at protesters who had gathered at the scene. Multiple arrests were made as tensions escalated dramatically. "What are you doing?" one woman yelled during a livestream of the events. "You just shot someone and now you're terrorizing us. What more can we take?"
The sentiment of anger and frustration was palpable throughout the city, with one 70-year-old man capturing the mood perfectly as he shouted through clouds of chemicals in subzero temperatures: "I'm 70 years old and I'm fucking angry."
Growing Tensions and Community Response
The Saturday killing occurred just one day after tens of thousands of Minneapolis residents participated in an economic blackout and protest march calling for an end to what they describe as the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) occupation of their city. Local leaders have repeatedly demanded that ICE leave Minnesota entirely, with "ICE OUT" signs becoming a common feature on front lawns across snow-covered neighbourhoods.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed his frustration during a press conference following the latest incident: "You ask us for peace, and we give it, and we get shot in the face on the streets coming out of a donut shop."
Federal Response and Local Doubts
In what has become a familiar pattern following such incidents, federal authorities placed blame on the deceased individual before completing any formal investigation. Former President Donald Trump issued statements alleging fraud within the state, while local officials immediately questioned the federal narrative, citing video evidence from the scene and insisting that local law enforcement must be involved in any proper investigation.
Community Under Siege
The city of Minneapolis, along with surrounding suburbs and some rural areas, remains under what many residents describe as a siege by thousands of federal agents. Numerous US citizens report barely leaving their homes for weeks, fearing detention regardless of their immigration status. This atmosphere of fear has fundamentally altered daily life across the region.
Communities have organised mutual aid networks to deliver food and essential supplies to those afraid to venture outside. Parents have established patrols outside schools to ensure children can travel safely to and from educational institutions. Disturbingly, there have been reports of children as young as two and five years old being detained during enforcement operations.
Humanitarian Crisis Comparisons
Rachel Sayre, director of Minneapolis' emergency management department, drew stark comparisons between the current situation in her city and conflict zones she has witnessed internationally. "My background is in international humanitarian response in conflict zones in Yemen, Haiti, Syria, Iraq and Ukraine," she stated. "What I've seen here is what I've seen there – a powerful entity violently and intentionally terrorizing people."
Observers and Escalating Hostilities
A dedicated network of observers now monitors immigration enforcement activity around the clock, tracking officers and alerting residents when federal agents are nearby. These observers report that agents have grown increasingly hostile and violent toward them, with incidents including being pulled from vehicles, subjected to chemical irritants, and facing arbitrary arrest and detention.
Despite these risks, observers remain committed to their work, with one GoFundMe campaign seeking funds to provide protective equipment including goggles, gas masks and bulletproof vests to ensure they can continue monitoring ICE activities safely.
Political Dimensions and Future Uncertainty
The political dimension of the crisis became particularly evident when JD Vance visited Minnesota on Thursday, calling for reduced tensions while placing blame on local leadership rather than federal forces. Meanwhile, Governor Walz expressed little confidence in federal intervention: "Do I have any confidence Donald Trump will do the right thing? No, I don't have a lot of confidence Donald Trump will do the right thing. I do have a lot of confidence that the majority of the American people will do the right thing."
As Minneapolis enters another week of occupation and protest, there is a widespread sense that the situation has become both untenable and dangerously unstable, with little indication that federal authorities intend to de-escalate their operations in the region.
