The mayor and the police chief of Minneapolis both reacted on social media, and then held a press conference late Wednesday night, after a illegal alien Venezuelan and two other individuals beat an ICE agent with a snow shovel and a broom, prompting the agent to shoot the Venezuelan in the leg in self-defense..
THE FACTS: According to DHS, ICE agents were conducting a traffic stop attempting to apprehend an illegal alien Venezuelan, when he fled in his vehicle and crashed into another car. He then tried to flee on foot, and when the agents caught him, the illegal alien began to assault them. Two other individuals reportedly came out of a nearby apartment and attacked the agents with a snow shovel and a broom. The first suspect reportedly also struck the agents with the shovel. The ICE agent shot the first suspect in the leg in self-defense. All three suspects then ran into the apartment and barricaded themselves inside. The ICE agent and the illegal alien both ended up in the hospital, and the other two suspects have been arrested.
At 6:50 PM CT, federal law enforcement officers were conducting a targeted traffic stop in Minneapolis of an illegal alien from Venezuela who was released into the country by Joe Biden in 2022.
In an attempt to evade arrest, the subject fled the scene in his vehicle and crashed…
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 15, 2026
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey abandoned all pretense of reporting the facts, as he simply wrote on X, “Tonight a man was shot in the leg by an ICE agent on the Northside. No matter what led up to this incident, the situation we are seeing in our city is not sustainable.”
Tonight a man was shot in the leg by an ICE agent on the Northside.
No matter what led up to this incident, the situation we are seeing in our city is not sustainable.
— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) January 15, 2026
The Minneapolis Police Department’s social media reaction was even worse. They wrote:
This evening, one adult male was shot by federal immigration enforcement agents in the 600 block of 24th Avenue North. He was transferred to a local hospital with apparent non-life-threatening injuries.
We understand there is anger. We ask the public to remain calm.
The City of Minneapolis again demands that ICE leave the city and state immediately. We stand by our immigrant and refugee communities – know that you have our full support.
The City of Minneapolis again demands that ICE leave the city and state immediately. We stand by our immigrant and refugee communities – know that you have our full support.
— City of Minneapolis (@CityMinneapolis) January 15, 2026
Then Mayor Frey and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara held a jaw-dropping press conference where they reported very few real facts about the incident, and spent more time raging against federal immigration operations.
“We’re here to give an update on the ICE shooting that took place earlier tonight… this is the second in a week,” Frey began, setting the false narrative that ICE agents are just going around shooting people.
Chief O’Hara then gave his version of the events, leaving out nearly ALL the key details of the incident, including what started it all in the first place.
He said his department had received a 911 call about a shooting. O’Hara further stated: “Preliminary information indicates there was a struggle with a federal agent in front of the residence. During the struggle, the federal agent discharged his weapon, striking one adult male. The adult male then retreated inside the residence, where he remained inside and refused to come out. Eventually federal agents made entry into the residence, and the individual was brought to an ambulance where he has been transported to the hospital. Minneapolis police have secured the crime scene around the location, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension as well as the FBI are on the scene processing the evidence.”
O’Hara made no mention of the illegal alien Venezuelan who fled, crashed into a car, and assaulted the ICE agent. He also made no mention of the other two suspects, or the fact that the ICE agent was beaten with a snow shovel and a broom.
Frey raged against ICE operations in the city, declaring, “This is not sustainable,” and claimed they are just “creating chaos.” He painted the picture of the city just being “invaded” by thousands of federal agents, and said the conduct by ICE is “disgusting.”
It was a reporter who asked the police chief about the two other people who came out of the apartment, and attacking the agents with shovels and brooms – details he had completely left out of his initial remarks.
O’Hara claimed that the whole thing started when the first “individual” drove towards the residence, “had some sort of accident outside the residence, ran towards the house and got into a struggle with a federal law enforcement.”
He admitted that there was “a broom and snow shovel on the scene,” and claimed that at least one person “may have assaulted federal law enforcement,” but claimed he wasn’t aware if that was the person who was shot or someone else.
When a reporter asked about an agent also being injured and taken to the hospital, he only claimed he had no updates, but said the suspect received a “non-life-threatening gunshot wound.”
Below is the full 15-minute press conference.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz also posted a statement on X Wednesday night. He did not condemn the violent attack on ICE, but only wrote, “State investigators have been on the scene in North Minneapolis. I know you’re angry. I’m angry. What Donald Trump wants is violence in the streets. But Minnesota will remain an island of decency, of justice, of community, and of peace. Don’t give him what he wants.”
State investigators have been on the scene in North Minneapolis.
I know you’re angry. I’m angry. What Donald Trump wants is violence in the streets.
But Minnesota will remain an island of decency, of justice, of community, and of peace.
Don’t give him what he wants.
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) January 15, 2026
DHS said in their statement Wednesday night:
This attack on another brave member of law enforcement took place while Minnesota’s top leaders, Governor Walz and Mayor Frey, are actively encouraging an organized resistance to ICE and federal law enforcement officers.
Their hateful rhetoric and resistance against men and women who are simply trying to do their jobs must end. Federal law enforcement officers are facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest criminals and lawbreakers.
O’Hara is the very same police chief who, last month, publicly declared that Somalians should call 911 if ICE shows up wearing masks to make arrests, because they may be kidnappers.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara says that Somalians should call 911 if ICE shows up wearing masks to make arrests.
He says police will “immediately respond” and “intervene.”
Interfering with immigration enforcement is a CRIME. pic.twitter.com/yTY0lFg3Sb
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 2, 2025
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