A woman was shot dead in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning during an incident involving an ICE agent, as federal authorities carried out what the Department of Homeland Security has called its “largest immigration operation ever.” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz confirmed the shooting and said officials were still gathering details.

“My public safety team is working to gather information on an ICE related shooting this morning. We will share information as we learn more. In the meantime, I ask folks to remain calm,” Walz said on X. The shooting was reported around 10:30 a.m. near 34th Street and Portland Avenue. Reporters at the scene said more than 100 federal agents arrived shortly after.

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What happened at the location?

A crashed car at the location had a bullet hole in the front windshield on the driver’s side, according to KARE11 reporters. Two other vehicles also showed signs of crash damage. Yellow police tape was placed around the area, and both federal and local law enforcement officers were present. Live video shared online showed emergency responders attempting to resuscitate someone at the scene.

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Protests erupt near the scene

Soon after the shooting, protesters gathered nearby and began chanting anti-ICE slogans. Officials had already been preparing for possible unrest due to the large-scale federal operation underway in the city. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara had said earlier that his department does not enforce immigration laws. On Tuesday, he announced that extra officers were placed on standby.

“Every day for the last several weeks has been a challenge,” O’Hara said, adding that his greatest concern is the potential for unrest or a tragedy in which someone could be seriously hurt or killed.He urged protesters to remain peaceful and asked federal agents to carry out their work “professionally and lawfully.”

Mayor demands ICE leave Minneapolis

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed that the shooting involved an ICE agent and strongly criticised the federal presence in the city. “I am aware of a shooting involving an ICE agent at 34th Street & Portland,” he wrote on X. “The presence of federal immigration enforcement agents is causing chaos in our city. We’re demanding ICE to leave the city immediately. We stand rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities.”

State Senator Omar Fateh said he received reports that a doctor at the scene was not allowed to give lifesaving CPR. A witness later showed KARE reporters what appeared to be video of responders trying to revive a person who had been shot.

The shooting happened during a large federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the operation involves hundreds of agents investigating alleged fraud in the state.

DHS said more than 1,000 people have been arrested across Minnesota so far, including about 150 people in Minneapolis on Monday. Cmdr. Gregory Bovino of U.S. Customs and Border Protection was seen at the scene on Wednesday.

The city issued a warning on social media, “We are aware of a shooting involving federal law enforcement near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue. Please avoid this area.” DHS said on Tuesday that about 2,000 agents and officers were expected to be deployed across the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, with part of the operation linked to fraud allegations involving Somali residents.