An officer of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) killed a woman (37) on Wednesday morning in south Minneapolis by firing through the window of her vehicle.
Video footage of the incident shows masked ICE agents approaching a Honda Pilot that had stopped in the middle of Portland Avenue, near 34th Street. One agent ordered the driver to exit the vehicle, and when the woman attempted to move backward and forward, the agent in front of the vehicle fired three shots. Her vehicle then crashed into a parked car.
The woman was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Her identity has not yet been officially released.
ICE officials claim the shooting was in self-defense, stating that the driver allegedly attempted to run over the agents—an act they described as “domestic terrorism.” However, witnesses say they did not observe any violent behavior by the woman prior to the shooting.
Witness Caitlin Kalenson said that an ICE vehicle was stuck in the snow, while bystanders were whistling in protest. According to her, the slain woman tried to block ICE vehicles, but no one was attacked before the shooting.
Emergency medical services arrived only 15 minutes later, as federal agents did not allow medical personnel to approach the scene of the incident.
The mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, criticized the presence of ICE in the city and called the claim of self-defense “nonsense.” He urged residents to remain calm and not fall for provocations, emphasizing that federal operations are causing chaos and distrust.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said there is still no evidence that the shooting was justified and that the woman was not a target of an immigration operation. Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), together with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, are now investigating the use of deadly force.
Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt and County Attorney Mary Moriarty are insisting on a local investigation to ensure full transparency.
Protests followed immediately after the incident, and demonstrators placed white roses at the site where blood marked the snow. City council members emphasized that the scene of the incident remains an active crime scene.
U.S. Congresswoman Betty McCollum called on the Department of Homeland Security to immediately halt the ICE operation in order to “restore order and prevent further injuries.”
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Source: Minnesota Reformer, Foto: Printscreen Instagram