MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police confirmed a 37-year-old man from Minneapolis was shot and killed in an incident involving federal agents in the Whittier neighborhood Saturday morning, prompting calls for assistance from the Minnesota National Guard from Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt.
“Due to the potential for continuing and growing conflict related to today’s federal agent-involved shooting, Sheriff Dawanna Witt has requested assistance from the Minnesota National Guard to support our deputies at the Whipple Federal Building so that we can reallocate deputies to other areas in need of support in the county,” read a statement from the sheriff’s office.
“Their job will be to assist the Sheriff’s Office in protecting life, preserving property, and helping to ensure the safety of all community members.”
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told the AP the victim was armed with a handgun. A statement posted by the department added officers were “conducting a targeted operation” toward an undocumented immigrant, when they claimed another man approached, leading to “defensive” shots from agents being fired.
A bystander video shared widely online appears to show several agents striking a man repeatedly on the ground before the shooting.
DHS said despite life-saving efforts, the man died at the hospital a short time later. His identity is still unknown.
KARE 11 is working to independently confirm what led up to the shooting, but MPD Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed the victim was a U.S. citizen and legal gun owner with a permit to carry a firearm.
O’Hara, Mayor Jacob Frey and others met for a press briefing from City Hall, asking protesters to remain calm and for agents to operate with “discipline and humanity.”
“Our demand today is for those federal agencies that are operating in our city to do so with the same discipline, humanity and integrity that effective law enforcement in this country demands,” O’Hara said.
He also asked protesters to “remain peaceful,” and declared the situation in Uptown had escalated into an “unlawful assembly.”
“We recognize that there is a lot of anger and a lot of questions around what has happened, but we need people to remain peaceful in the area,” he said.
Scanner activity obtained by KARE said MPD requested help from other law enforcement agencies in the area for crowd control, which was confirmed by O’Hara.
Frey directly pleading with President Donald Trump, asked the president to “put America first” and use the incident as an opportunity to lead.
“How many more lives need to be lost before this administration realizes that a political and partisan narrative is not as important as American values?” Frey asked.
“How many times must local and national leaders plead with you, Donald Trump, to end this operation and recognize that this is not creating safety in our city?”
Border Patrol Commander at Large Greg Bovino and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Executive Assistant Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Marcos Charles held their own briefing just after 1 p.m., where they laid out their agency’s version of events — some details in direct conflict with video footage taken by several bystanders.
Bovino claimed the shooting victim was “immediately delivered medical aid” after shots were fired, but video shows agents backing away from the man as he lay in the street.
Preliminary reports said the shooting happened around 9 a.m. It is the third shooting — and second fatality — in Minneapolis involving federal law enforcement in less than three weeks.
Thirty-seven-year-old Renee Good was shot and killed on Jan. 7, also on the south side of Minneapolis. A week later, federal agents shot Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg.
Shortly after 11 a.m., Federal Bureau of Investigation vehicles were seen arriving to the area. Border Patrol and Homeland Security agents were also present.
Following the shooting, state leaders started to comment, including Gov. Walz, who said he spoke with the White House.
He also called on the president to allow the state to lead the investigation, the request coming after the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) was shut out of investigating Good’s shooting.
A social media post from the BCA later Saturday afternoon said their Force Investigations Unit tried to respond to the area at the request of Minneapolis police, but “were blocked.”
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty released a message saying her office is working with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to coordinate a state response.
“The scene must be secured by local law enforcement for the collection and preservation of evidence,” Moriarty said, “We expect the federal government to allow the BCA to process the scene.”
Hundreds of protesters gathered in the area, as law enforcement was seen deploying chemical irritants toward the crowd. KARE 11’s Jana Shortal and Joe McCoy were live on-air when teargas canisters were thrown in their direction. Shortal also said they and protesters were physically pushed by law enforcement, which was caught by KARE 11’s cameras.
A business owner who ushered folks inside her restaurant near the scene told KARE’s Samie Solina she’s “never seen this before.”
“I want everybody to be safe and get warm ’cause it’s so cold out there,” she said.
Women’s March Minnesota announced, in partnership with Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, there will be a vigil and rally at the shooting scene at 1 p.m.
