By Trendsetter Tribune 
For the third time this month, a federal law enforcement agent has shot someone in Minneapolis, further escalating tensions around Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity and intensifying questions about accountability and use of force.
The latest shooting happened Saturday morning in south Minneapolis, where a federal agent shot a man during what authorities described as a law enforcement encounter. The man was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead. This marks the third shooting involving federal agents in January, all tied to immigration enforcement and unfolding amid sustained protests against ICE across the city.
Earlier this month, an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman, during a federal operation. ICE claimed self-defense, but video footage and witness accounts quickly challenged that version of events. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner later ruled Good’s death a homicide, fueling calls for transparency and an independent investigation.
Days later, a second shooting occurred in north Minneapolis, when a federal agent shot a man in the leg. While authorities said the man posed a threat, witnesses told local media he did not attack officers. Though nonfatal, the incident further inflamed public anger.
According to local officials, including Mayor Jacob Frey, the victim in Saturday’s shooting was a 37-year-old white male, a Minneapolis resident with no criminal history beyond traffic violations. Federal authorities have released a statement maintaining a “violent victim” narrative and circulated an image of a gun they claim belonged to the man.
Protests against ICE operations have continued statewide, with demonstrators demanding an end to immigration raids and stronger oversight of federal agents. Governor Tim Walz and city leaders have repeatedly criticized what they describe as poor communication and limited cooperation from federal agencies operating locally.
Civil rights advocates argue the pattern is deeply troubling. Three shootings in one city within weeks, they say, point to a broader problem with enforcement tactics rather than isolated incidents.
With investigations into the earlier shootings still unresolved, Saturday’s killing is likely to intensify pressure on federal agencies — and elected officials — to explain what is happening on the ground and why Minneapolis has become the epicenter of repeated deadly encounters involving federal immigration enforcement.