MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A woman was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer Wednesday in south Minneapolis during what federal officials described as a targeted immigration enforcement operation, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

DHS confirmed the shooting occurred as part of what it called the largest ICE immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota’s history, involving thousands of federal agents across the Twin Cities.

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene near 33rd Street and Portland Avenue, where a heavy federal and local police presence was established.

Minneapolis officials later identified the deceased as a 37-year-old white woman who was alone in her vehicle at the time of the incident.

Authorities have not released her name.

In a statement posted on X, DHS alleged that the woman attempted to use her vehicle as a weapon against officers.

“ICE officers in Minneapolis were conducting targeted operations when rioters began blocking ICE officers and one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them,” DHS said. “An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement, and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots.”

DHS stated that the woman was struck and pronounced deceased, and that several officers were injured, though their injuries were not life-threatening and they are expected to recover. Officials did not confirm whether the woman was the target of an ICE warrant.

Video from the scene shows a burgundy SUV with a bullet hole through the driver’s side windshield. The vehicle had crashed into a light pole, and two nearby parked vehicles were also damaged.

Local officials acknowledged the incident and urged residents to avoid the area. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office said it was assisting at the scene but was not directly involved in the shooting. Minneapolis city officials confirmed the involvement of federal law enforcement.

The incident occurred amid heightened tensions following the launch of a large-scale immigration enforcement operation announced by DHS earlier in the week. The operation reportedly involved approximately 2,000 agents and officers and was linked, in part, to federal investigations involving alleged fraud in the Somali community.

As news of the shooting spread, large crowds of protesters gathered near the scene. Demonstrators voiced anger toward federal authorities, and at times the situation became volatile, with reports of confrontations and objects being thrown. Law enforcement officers deployed crowd-control measures, including pepper spray and tear gas, to maintain order.

Several witnesses provided accounts of the moments leading up to the shooting.

Emily Heller, who lives near the intersection, said she was awakened by commotion and observed what appeared to be a confrontation involving federal agents and a woman in a vehicle blocking traffic.

Heller said she heard agents telling the driver to leave the area.

“She was trying to turn around, and the ICE agent was in front of her car,” Heller said. “He pulled out a gun, put it right up on the hood of the car, and then reached across and shot her in the face three or four times.”

Heller said the vehicle then accelerated approximately 100 feet before striking a utility pole and other cars. She reported that the woman appeared slumped over inside the vehicle after the crash.

Another witness near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue said they saw emergency responders performing CPR on an injured person before that individual was transported by ambulance.

Additional observers suggested the woman may have been acting as an observer or protester, possibly filming immigration enforcement activity.

One resident, Venus DeMars, said she went outside after hearing reports of federal activity near Central Elementary School, where agents were reportedly detaining parents who were dropping off a child earlier in the day.

“I live right here, so I came over to try to figure out what was going on,” DeMars said. “Later I heard that someone had been shot and went to the intersection. I saw them doing CPR behind a snowbank for about a minute. Then the ambulances came and they loaded her onto a stretcher.”

DeMars said she did not witness the shooting itself and could not confirm who fired the weapon or the precise circumstances.

She described the woman as white and said she appeared to be a bystander rather than someone being detained.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said his public safety team is aware of the ICE-related shooting and is monitoring the situation.

“In the meantime, I ask folks to remain calm,” Walz said.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also confirmed the involvement of a federal immigration agent and criticized the federal presence.

“The presence of federal immigration enforcement agents is causing chaos in our city,” Frey said. “We are demanding that ICE leave the city immediately. We stand rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, including Commander Gregory Bovino, were reported to be present at the scene.

Authorities have not yet released information about whether body-worn camera footage or other video evidence is being reviewed.

The incident remains under active investigation by federal authorities, and additional details are expected as the inquiry continues.