Federal Agents Kill Armed Man in Minneapolis, Sparking Immediate Street Protests

2026-01-24 region

Minneapolis, 24 January 2026
Immigration enforcement officers fatally shot a 51-year-old man carrying a firearm during a targeted operation in Minneapolis on Saturday, triggering clashes with over 100 protesters who gathered at the scene. This marks the third federal shooting in Minneapolis this month, following the controversial killing of mother Renee Good on 7 January. Video footage suggests at least 10 shots were fired within five seconds, with some analysts questioning whether the man was disarmed before being shot. Governor Tim Walz called the incident ‘sickening’ after speaking with the White House, whilst local officials deployed tear gas against demonstrators chanting anti-ICE slogans.

Third Federal Shooting in Minneapolis This Month

The fatal shooting occurred near West 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue South on Saturday, 24 January 2026, when federal law enforcement agents confronted a 51-year-old man during what the Department of Homeland Security described as a ‘targeted operation’ against someone in the country illegally [1][8]. According to federal officials, the deceased man approached Border Patrol agents ‘with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun’ and was found to possess ‘a firearm with two magazines’ [1][8]. This incident represents the third shooting involving federal law enforcement agents in Minneapolis this month, including the controversial killing of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, on 7 January 2026 [1][5][8].

Video Evidence and Questions Over Use of Force

Social media video footage of the incident appears to show federal agents wrestling the man to the ground before gunshots were fired, with at least 10 shots discharged within five seconds [1]. Open-source experts analysing the circulating video have suggested the man may have been disarmed before being shot, raising questions about the use of force [8]. County Commissioner Angela Conley, who claimed to have witnessed the incident, described it as ‘cold blooded murder’ [8]. The footage has spread widely across online platforms, contributing to public outrage and immediate calls for accountability from local officials [3].

Immediate Protests and Law Enforcement Response

Over 100 protesters rapidly gathered at the shooting scene, with rapid response networks alerting residents via text messages and Signal chats [1]. The demonstration quickly escalated into clashes with law enforcement, who deployed tear gas, flash bangs, and chemical irritants against the crowd [1][8]. Three flashbangs were specifically deployed as ICE agents pursued protesters down Nicollet Avenue, causing significant traffic disruptions [1]. The protesters chanted anti-ICE slogans whilst federal agents attempted to maintain control of the scene, with live video showing the deployment of chemical irritants into the crowd [1][8].

Political Backlash and Federal-State Tensions

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz spoke directly with the White House following the shooting, describing the incident as ‘sickening’ [1][8]. Senator Amy Klobuchar stated she was ‘working to get more information’ about the shooting, whilst Democratic National Committee Chairperson Ken Martin posted on social media: ‘What the actual fuck is going on in this country?’ [8]. The incident has intensified existing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and Minnesota officials, with Senator Erin Murphy, the top Democrat in the Minnesota Senate, calling ICE ‘a brutal invading force that acts without accountability’ and demanding that ‘these agents of violence need to be brought to justice’ [1]. Local prosecutor Mary Moriarty has expressed concerns that federal agencies have blocked Minnesota officials from accessing evidence and investigating previous federal shootings, including the death of Renee Good [1].

Broader Context of Federal Immigration Operations

The shooting occurs amid heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which has deployed thousands of federal agents as part of efforts to deport millions of undocumented immigrants [5]. On 22 January 2026, just two days before this incident, thousands of protesters demonstrated against President Trump’s immigration crackdown [1]. The enforcement operations have been particularly controversial following the detention of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, who was taken into ICE custody in Minnesota after pre-school and transported to a detention facility in Texas alongside his father [4][5]. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has called for an end to what he describes as the ‘inhumane treatment of migrants and refugees’, stating he was ‘shocked by the abuse and humiliation of migrants and refugees that has now become commonplace’ [5]. A restraining order hearing against ICE operations was scheduled for 26 January 2026 as Minnesota officials seek to limit federal enforcement activities [5].

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