Federal officer shoots person in leg after being attacked during arrest in Minneapolis, officials say

A federal officer shot a person in the leg in Minneapolis after being attacked during an arrest Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

Federal law enforcement officers were “conducting a targeted traffic stop” at about 6:50 p.m. local time involving a man from Venezuela who DHS said entered the country illegally in 2022.

The person drove away and crashed into a parked car before taking off on foot, DHS said.

After officers reached the person, two other people arrived from a nearby apartment and all three started attacking the officer, according to DHS.

“Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life,” DHS said.

The two people who came out of the apartment are in custody, it said.

A large group of officers wearing gas masks fired tear gas into a crowd gathered at a north Minneapolis intersection near where Wednesday’s shooting took place.

City officials said earlier they were aware of reports of a shooting involved federal law enforcement.

This is a developing story. This article will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.