Federal Agents Fatally Shoot Man in South Minneapolis Confrontation

Federal agents fatally shot a man during a confrontation in South Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, according to local authorities. The incident occurred in the 2800 block of 15th Avenue South, near the intersection with 28th Street, in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office has taken over the investigation, standard procedure for officer-involved shootings in the county.

The confrontation involved agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Marshals Service, who were attempting to apprehend a suspect with an outstanding warrant. According to preliminary reports, the suspect was armed and reportedly fired at agents before they returned fire. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. No federal agents were injured in the incident.

This shooting represents the third fatal encounter between federal law enforcement and individuals in Minneapolis within the past month. On January 7, 2026, a woman was killed by ICE agents during an operation in the city, identified as 28-year-old Maria Rodriguez. The circumstances surrounding that incident remain under investigation by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The frequency of these incidents has drawn criticism from local officials and community advocates. U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN), whose district includes Minneapolis, along with other Democratic lawmakers, were blocked from conducting an oversight visit to ICE facilities following the January 7 shooting. The delegation was denied access to the St. Paul ICE processing center, raising questions about transparency and congressional oversight of federal law enforcement operations in the region.

Federal law enforcement presence in Minneapolis has increased significantly since 2020, when the city experienced widespread civil unrest following the killing of George Floyd. The U.S. Marshals Service has maintained a permanent task force in the Twin Cities area focused on violent crime and fugitive apprehension. ICE operations have also continued, targeting individuals with deportation orders or criminal records.

The coordination between federal and local law enforcement has been a point of tension. While the Minneapolis Police Department has maintained a policy of non-cooperation with ICE on immigration enforcement matters, federal agencies continue to operate independently within the city. This has created a complex jurisdictional landscape where federal agents operate without the same public accountability mechanisms that govern local police departments.

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office investigation will examine multiple aspects of the incident, including whether the agents followed proper protocols, whether the use of deadly force was justified under the circumstances, and whether any alternatives to lethal force were available. The investigation will also review body camera footage from the agents involved, though federal agencies have historically been less transparent about releasing such footage compared to local police departments.

Community response has been swift, with local advocacy groups calling for greater transparency and accountability. The Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) has organized a vigil for the man killed in the January 24 incident, scheduled for this weekend near the shooting location. The group has also called for a moratorium on ICE operations in Minneapolis pending a review of federal law enforcement practices.

The incident highlights the broader challenges of federal-local law enforcement coordination in urban areas. While federal agencies have jurisdiction to enforce federal laws, their operations can impact community trust in law enforcement more broadly. In Minneapolis, where relations between the community and police remain strained following the events of 2020, the presence of federal agents operating with different protocols and less local oversight has created additional friction.

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office investigation is expected to take several weeks to complete. Once finished, the findings will be forwarded to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota to determine whether federal charges are warranted. In the meantime, the community awaits answers about what led to the fatal confrontation and what changes, if any, might be implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Federal agents block off the scene of a shooting in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026. Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images