MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Wednesday he has issued a warning order to the Minnesota National Guard as tensions rose in Minneapolis following a fatal shooting involving federal officers.
Walz said 7,500 guard troops are in training for the mission.
According to authorities, the incident occurred when a 37-year-old woman was shot and killed after allegedly driving her vehicle toward officers during a federal operation led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Officials said the woman had been blocking traffic and federal vehicles before accelerating toward an officer, striking him. Officers then fired their weapons, killing her at the scene.
The incident prompted a swift and tense response across the city as state and local officials worked to prevent potential unrest. During an evening news conference, Walz confirmed he had authorized a “warning order,” placing the National Guard on heightened readiness should assistance be required.
“We are preparing the National Guard,” Walz said. “They are prepared to be deployed if necessary.” He emphasized that the order was a precautionary step to ensure public safety as protests and demonstrations began forming near the shooting site.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) also weighed in, alleging on social media that her son had been stopped by ICE earlier in the week as part of what she called a “racial profiling sweep.” Federal officials have not commented on those claims.
Law enforcement sources said the officer struck by the vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The shooting remains under investigation by federal authorities and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Gov. Tim Walz placed the National Guard on standby after a woman was fatally shot by federal officers during an ICE operation in Minneapolis, escalating tensions across the city.
