DHS Investigation & Minneapolis Shooting – Press Briefing Transcript Details
Key Concepts:
- Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS): An incident where law enforcement officers discharge their firearms, resulting in injury or death.
- CBP OPR: Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility – responsible for internal investigations within CBP.
- Domestic Terrorism: Violent acts intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, often with ideological motivations.
- Insurrection Act: A U.S. federal law granting the President the power to deploy the military within the United States in certain circumstances.
- Targeted Operation: A law enforcement operation focused on a specific individual or group, often with prior intelligence.
- Doxing: The act of publicly revealing someone's personal information (address, phone number, etc.) online, often with malicious intent.
- ICE: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
I. Investigation Details & Initial Incident Account
The briefing centers on an officer-involved shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the subsequent investigation. DHS is conducting the investigation following standard protocols for all OIS incidents. Initial reports indicate a 37-year-old male, legally licensed to carry a firearm, “impeded a law enforcement operation” and “assaulted our officers.” The individual allegedly brandished a weapon and possessed “multiple dozens of rounds of ammunition.” Law enforcement responded to defend themselves and the public.
The speaker emphasized that the individual was not a “peaceful protester” but a “violent riot[er]” due to the presence of a weapon. The gun and magazines were retrieved from the individual at an unspecified point before shots were fired, a point clarified in response to questioning.
II. Federal Investigation & Local Police Involvement
A criminal investigation is underway, led by DHS, alongside an internal investigation by CBP OPR. Federal agents reportedly instructed the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) to leave the scene. The speaker asserted that protocols are unchanged from previous administrations (including the Trump administration) and details will be released as available.
The operation targeted an individual illegally present in the country with prior convictions for domestic assault with intent to do bodily harm and other offenses. The speaker stressed the importance of focusing on the facts: the individual attacked officers, possessed a weapon, and intended to cause harm.
III. Criticism of Minneapolis Leadership & Allegations of Encouraged Violence
A significant portion of the briefing focused on criticism of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The speaker accused them of “encouraging” violence and rioting, referencing the events of 2020 when Minneapolis experienced widespread unrest.
Specifically, the speaker highlighted Mayor Frey’s stated desire to remove ICE from the city, claiming this has hindered law enforcement efforts. Since ICE’s presence in Minneapolis, “thousands of individuals with criminal convictions” have been arrested. The speaker repeatedly questioned why the mayor and governor “choose the side of lawbreakers, criminals, murderers, and rapists over the citizens of Minneapolis.”
IV. Allegations of Corruption & Financial Mismanagement
The speaker leveled serious accusations of corruption against Governor Walz and Mayor Frey, alleging the diversion of “tens of billions of dollars” into “criminal pockets” and away from programs intended for vulnerable populations (children, individuals with developmental disabilities). These alleged financial crimes are presented as the motivation for the leaders to “perpetuate violence against our law enforcement officers to cover it up.”
V. Characterization of the Deceased as a Domestic Terrorist & Ideological Motivation
The speaker unequivocally stated that the individual killed was engaged in an act of “domestic terrorism,” defining it as violence perpetrated for ideological reasons to resist law enforcement. When pressed for evidence of the individual’s ideology, the speaker reiterated that possessing weapons and ammunition to obstruct a law enforcement operation constitutes an act of domestic terrorism.
VI. Dispute with State Officials & Investigation Obstruction
The speaker claimed that Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Superintendent Drew Evans reported being blocked by federal agents from accessing the shooting scene despite having a judicial warrant. This is presented as further evidence of obstruction by state officials. The speaker reiterated a long-standing request for partnership from state officials, dating back to the Trump administration, which has been consistently refused.
VII. Immigration Enforcement & Detention Standards
Responding to questions about increased fatalities during immigration enforcement and a previous shooting in Portland, the speaker defended current immigration policies. They argued that the current approach is a response to a “Democrat administration” that allowed an “invasion” of unvetted individuals into the country, including terrorists and criminals.
The speaker refuted claims of increased incidents under their tenure, asserting that current operations are conducted with “historic accuracy” and “the highest standards” in detention facilities, exceeding state and local requirements. Witnesses detained as “illegal aliens” were reportedly taken to the Whipple Federal Building.
VIII. Targeted Arrests & Street Confrontation Details
The speaker clarified that the operation was a “targeted arrest” of an “illegal criminal.” They reiterated that the individual attacked officers with a weapon and ammunition, prompting the officers to act in self-defense and to protect the public. The speaker accused Governor Walz and Mayor Frey of lying about the events and attempting to distract from their own alleged corruption.
IX. Potential Invocation of the Insurrection Act & Future Actions
When asked about the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, the speaker stated that the President will use “every tool” necessary to fulfill promises to the American people. They emphasized a commitment to treating Minneapolis like any other city, offering assistance to improve safety, and partnering with willing local officials.
The speaker highlighted successful collaborations with mayors and governors of both parties in reducing crime rates and stopping drug trafficking. They reiterated the importance of state and local cooperation, specifically requesting that Governor Walz hand over individuals about to be released from jail to ICE for deportation.
X. Severe Winter Storm Warning
The briefing concluded with a warning about an impending severe winter storm impacting multiple states. The speaker urged citizens to stay home with their families, stock up on fuel and food, and heed the advice of local officials. Information and recommendations are available on the ready.gov website.
Notable Quotes:
- “I do not know why they continue to choose the side of lawbreakers, criminals, murderers, and rapists over the citizens of Minneapolis.”
- “These are the individuals that were in charge when Minneapolis burned in 2020. They facilitated it. They encouraged it.”
- “When you perpetuate violence against a government because of ideological reasons…that is the definition of domestic terrorism.”
- “Who would trust Governor Walz at this point?”
This briefing presented a highly critical and politically charged account of the events in Minneapolis, heavily emphasizing the alleged failures of local leadership and framing the incident as a direct consequence of their policies. The speaker consistently defended law enforcement actions and portrayed the deceased individual as a dangerous criminal and domestic terrorist.
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