US federal agency reports non-fatal shooting of man sought in immigration enforcement stop

MINNEAPOLIS – A Venezuelan national pursued by US immigration agents during a “targeted” traffic stop in Minneapolis was shot in the leg on Jan 14 by a federal officer ambushed by two others wielding a broomstick and snow shovel, the authorities said.

The shooting on Jan 14 came a week after a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent

shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good

in the midst of militarised deportation sweeps ordered by President Donald Trump, spawning a wave of protests.

Ms Good, who was part of a volunteer neighbourhood patrol network tracking and monitoring ICE activities in Minneapolis, was at the wheel of her car in a residential area at the time.

The latest incident ended with the officer and the Venezuelan national hospitalised, while the two people involved in the ambush were taken into custody, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement.

“Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired defensive shots,” the DHS said.

The shots struck the original suspect in the leg, before all three ran back into a nearby apartment and barricaded themselves inside, it added.

DHS, which oversees ICE, said the latest shooting unfolded when the Venezuelan national targeted in the traffic stop by federal law enforcement officers tried to make a getaway and crashed his vehicle into a parked car, before fleeing on foot.

One of the pursuing officers caught up with, and tried to apprehend, the individual, who then “began to resist and violently assault the officer”, DHS said, recounting the incident.

While they struggled, the two others emerged from the apartment nearby and joined in attacking the officer with a snow shovel and broom handle, it added.

This enabled the original suspect to break loose and begin striking the officer with one of the tools, DHS said.

All three were ultimately extricated, though the agency gave no further details of how the matter was resolved.

The shooting followed days of chaotic clashes in Minneapolis between heavily armed federal agents and civilians they stopped in the streets, as well as with local activists showing up to observe and record such confrontations and protesters jeering from the sidelines.

Earlier on Jan 14, Mr Trump said he would cut off federal funding in February for any state that includes sanctuary cities where officials have prohibited local law enforcement from cooperating in federal immigration enforcement operations. REUTERS