A U.S. immigration enforcement officer shot and wounded a Venezuelan man in north Minneapolis on Wednesday evening during a federal operation, city officials and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said.
DHS said the incident occurred during a targeted traffic stop when the man, described as a Venezuelan national, fled the scene and crashed his vehicle into a parked car. After escaping on foot, he resisted arrest and a struggle ensued.
According to the federal agency, two other individuals left a nearby apartment and joined the altercation, allegedly attacking the officer with a snow shovel and broom handle. Fearing for his life, the officer fired a defensive shot, striking the man in the leg.
The wounded man was taken to a hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening, Minneapolis officials said.
The shooting comes a week after the fatal killing of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent in the same city, an incident that sparked widespread protests and criticism of federal immigration operations.
In response to the latest incident, city leaders urged the public to “remain calm” and again called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to leave Minneapolis and the state immediately.
The event has heightened existing tensions over the federal surge of immigration agents in Minneapolis, with protests and confrontations occurring near the shooting site.
This marks another flashpoint in the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement tactics and community safety in Minnesota’s largest city.
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