Chaos erupted in Minneapolis Saturday after hundreds of protesters faced off against federal agents in the wake of the fatal shooting of an armed man who allegedly tried to intervene in the arrest of a criminal migrant.
One Homeland Security agent even lost a finger in the violence, according to DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, who posted photos of a sobbing demonstrator — and the bloody, severed digit.
“In Minneapolis, these rioters attacked our law enforcement officer and one of them bit off our HSI officer’s finger,” she posted on X, adding, “He will lose his finger.”
Tensions flared as law enforcement tried to secure the area around West 26th Street and Nicollet Ave in South Minneapolis Saturday morning — where Alex Jeffrey Pretti was shot and killed.
Protesters flooded the streets jeering at masked agents, with some blowing loud whistles – while federal forces fired repeated volleys of tear gas trying to disperse the crowds.
Rioters tossed trash cans atop an armored vehicle and other projectiles, while screaming, “F- – k you!” at armed officers.
“About 200 rioters arrived at the scene and began to obstruct and assault law enforcement on the scene, crowd control measures were deployed for the safety of the public and law enforcement,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement after the incident.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called in the National Guard to help secure the Whipple Federal Building, which has been used by immigration authorities as a detention center, “due to the potential for continuing and growing conflict.”
“We recognize that there’s a lot of anger and a lot of questions around what has happened, but we need people to remain peaceful. In the area, we have an unlawful assembly at this time,” said Minneapolis Police Chief O’Hara.
Pretti, 37, died at the scene after authorities alleged he brandished a weapon as they attempted to arrest Jose Huerta-Chuma, whose criminal record includes domestic violence, DHS said.
As the dramatic events unfolded on streets that include boutique donut shops and ethnic restaurants, one protester carried an upside down American flag.
Federal agents, many wearing gas masks, struggled to secure police tape that had gotten ripped down intersections near the site of the shooting, as they sought to impose order block-by-block.
President Trump and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz traded barbs, with Trump using Truth Social to accuse Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of “inciting insurrection with their pompous, dangerous and arrogant rhetoric!”Walz blamed the feds for stoking tensions.
“We know that the potential to further inflame tensions is high. And to Minnesotans, there’s a difference. We want calm and peace and normalcy back to our lives. They want chaos,” he said. He called on Trump to “remove this force from Minnesota.”
“We recognize that there’s a lot of anger and a lot of questions around what has happened, but we need people to remain peaceful. In the area, we have an unlawful assembly at this time,” said Minneapolis Police Chief O’Hara.
The Hennepin County Sheriff, Dawanna Witt, asked the National Guard for help securing the Whipple Federal Building “ “due to the potential for continuing and growing conflict related to today’s federal agent-involved shooting.”Walz confirmed he had activated Guard forces in response.