A woman was fatally shot by a federal immigration agent during a tense confrontation in south Minneapolis on Wednesday. The incident has sparked major controversy, with an eyewitness providing a starkly different account from the official version presented by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Eyewitness Account: "He Shot Her in the Face"
Emily Heller, a resident who lives near 33rd Street and Portland Avenue where the shooting occurred, told MPR News that loud shouting woke her up. She described seeing a car that was blocking traffic, seemingly part of a protest against federal law enforcement actions in Minnesota.
According to Heller's detailed testimony, ICE agents were yelling at a woman driving the car, telling her to "get out of here." Heller stated that the woman was in the process of turning her vehicle around to leave the area. At that moment, an agent stepped directly in front of the car.
"She was trying to turn around, and the ICE agent was in front of her car, and he pulled out a gun and put it right in — like, his midriff was on her bumper — and he reached across the hood of the car and shot her in the face like three, four times," Heller recounted to MPR.
Heller said the car then accelerated forward, crashing into a utility pole and other parked vehicles. Social media videos from the scene showed the driver slumped over the steering wheel with visible blood inside the car.
ICE's Official Statement: A "Violent" Confrontation
Federal authorities presented a completely different narrative of the event. In an official statement, ICE claimed its agent fired in self-defence after "fearing for his life" during what it described as a violent confrontation.
The statement said ICE officers were conducting targeted operations when "rioters began blocking ICE officers and one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them."
It added, "An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots." ICE confirmed the woman died from her injuries and noted that officers who were injured are expected to recover.
Broader Context and Community Tensions
The shooting took place just one day after the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its largest-ever operation was underway in Minnesota. The agency revealed it was deploying 2,000 officers to the Twin Cities area as part of a massive immigration crackdown.
This action occurs amidst heightened political rhetoric. The GOP administration has shown hostility towards the large Somali community residing in Democrat-leaning states, with prominent figures like Elon Musk and JD Vance publicly calling for deportations. A recent alleged scam involving the community is also under investigation, further inflaming tensions.
On social media, users claimed the deceased woman was acting as a legal observer at the scene. Viral videos appear to show a doctor being prevented at gunpoint from administering medical aid before emergency services arrived.
City officials in Minneapolis were scheduled to address the incident later on Wednesday. The conflicting stories from an independent witness and federal authorities ensure this case will remain under intense scrutiny, highlighting deep divisions over immigration enforcement tactics in the United States.
