A 37-year-old woman was fatally shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, during a targeted immigration operation. The incident led to conflicting accounts from federal officials and local authorities regarding the circumstances that resulted in the shooting.
Incident Overview
The fatal shooting occurred on a residential street in Minneapolis while ICE officers were conducting targeted operations. According to federal officials, this operation took place less than 24 hours after the Trump administration announced a large-scale immigration enforcement action in Minnesota.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara reported that local police arrived at the scene to find a woman with a gunshot wound to the head. Life-saving measures, including CPR, were performed before she was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Preliminary information indicates the woman was in her vehicle, blocking Portland Avenue between 33rd and 34th St.
Conflicting Accounts and Details
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated on X and to reporters that "rioters began blocking ICE officers" during the operation. McLaughlin alleged that "one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them — an act of domestic terrorism." She further stated that an ICE officer, citing fear for their life, the lives of fellow officers, and public safety, "fired defensive shots."
Video footage, purportedly from the scene and shared on social media, showed ICE officers arriving at a street with several parked cars. In the video, a woman can be heard saying, "Get the f--- out of our neighborhood." ICE agents are then seen exiting their vehicle and approaching a car blocking the roadway, instructing the driver to exit. The vehicle subsequently moved backward slightly before proceeding forward. Within approximately three seconds of the vehicle's movement, at least three shots were fired by the agents. Following the gunfire, the vehicle crashed into another car further down the street. Individuals present in the video are heard reacting, with one woman screaming and a man yelling, "Dude, you did a murder, for what?"
Local Officials' Response and Concerns
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey publicly contested the Department of Homeland Security's account. Mayor Frey stated that ICE was "trying to spin this as an action of self-defense" and called the claim "bull***." He asserted that the incident involved "an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying" and called for ICE agents to leave the city, alleging they were causing disruption.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara expressed concerns regarding the tactics employed by federal immigration agents. While acknowledging that deadly force can be justified, Chief O'Hara noted that most U.S. law enforcement agencies are trained to minimize its need. He specifically stated that a shooting into a vehicle of someone who is not armed is "very concerning" to professional law enforcement agencies.
Investigation
The investigation into the use of deadly force has been transferred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.