America News Agency

The Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday evening that federal officers carried out a “targeted traffic stop” at around 6:50 p.m. on Jan. 14. The incident occurred in the 600 block of North 24th Street in Minneapolis, about 7.2 kilometers from where Renee Good was fatally shot on Jan. 7.

In the hours following the incident, protesters clashed with law enforcement in the area, setting off fireworks and throwing snowballs. Police used chemical irritants to disperse the crowd. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described the event as an unlawful assembly and called on people to “leave immediately.”

In its statement, the Department of Homeland Security said federal law enforcement stopped a Venezuelan national who was in the United States illegally. The individual fled in his vehicle, struck a parked car, and then fled on foot. According to DHS, after officers caught up with the individual, two additional people emerged from a nearby apartment building and all three began attacking the officer.

“Fearing for his life after being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to protect himself,” the Department of Homeland Security said.

The City of Minneapolis said on social media that the man who was shot sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital.

The police officer involved in the incident was also hospitalized. The severity of the officer’s injuries is unknown.

The other two individuals involved in the incident were arrested.