Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A Minneapolis man was shot and killed by federal agents on Saturday during a targeted law enforcement operation, sparking renewed protests, sharp criticism from local and state leaders, and escalating tensions between Minnesota officials and the Trump administration over federal immigration enforcement.
According to city officials, the man, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, was killed during an encounter with Border Patrol officers. The Department of Homeland Security stated that the man was armed with a handgun and approached federal agents during an operation. DHS said the man “violently resisted” efforts to disarm him, prompting an agent to fire in self-defense.
Local officials, however, have challenged the federal account. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said publicly available videos show masked federal agents “pummeling one of our constituents and shooting him to death,” condemning what he described as the growing “impunity” of federal officers operating in the city. “The video speaks for itself,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said, noting that police have not received a formal public safety briefing from federal authorities regarding the incident.
Preliminary information indicates that more than one federal agent may have been involved in the shooting, O’Hara confirmed, adding that video footage shows several officers engaged in a physical struggle with the victim. The man is believed to have been a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry, and police said his only known prior interactions with law enforcement were traffic-related offenses.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was deployed to the scene as protests erupted in the surrounding area. Community members gathered near the site of the shooting, with federal officers using tear gas to disperse crowds. The shooting marks the third fatal incident involving federal agents in Minneapolis this month, including the high-profile killing of Renee Good, amid mounting demonstrations against the administration’s immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called on President Donald Trump to withdraw Immigration and Customs Enforcement from Minneapolis and allow the state to lead the investigation. “I told the White House the state must lead the investigation,” Walz said in a post on X, stressing that state authorities are best positioned to secure accountability and ensure justice. He also urged the public to remain peaceful and warned that federal agents must not obstruct state efforts to manage the scene.
In response to the escalating situation, Walz activated the State Emergency Operations Center, which coordinates state, local, and federal responses to major emergencies. Officials said the move was intended to ensure public safety and maintain coordination amid rising unrest.
Mayor Frey strongly criticized what he described as a militarized federal response to protests, arguing that it undermines trust in law enforcement and democratic institutions. He rejected claims that local leaders or community members were responsible for the unrest, noting that approximately 15,000 people had protested peacefully the day before without injuries or property damage. “We are seeing mass militarized force and unidentified agents occupying our streets,” Frey said. “These are tactics we associate with other countries, not with an American city being confronted by its own federal government.”
The incident has intensified debate over federal law enforcement’s role in domestic policing, particularly amid widespread opposition to the administration’s immigration policies. As investigations proceed, Minneapolis remains on edge, with state and local officials pressing for transparency, accountability, and de-escalation.
