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Minneapolis officials released surveillance footage on Monday that contradicts the initial account given by federal immigration agents of a January shooting that injured a Venezuelan man, according to multiple reports. The video, captured by a city-owned security camera, shows federal officers chasing one man to his home before another man inside was shot during a confrontation that lasted about 12 seconds — far shorter than the roughly three-minute struggle described by the officer involved.

The release comes after charges against the two Venezuelan men were dropped in February, and two immigration officers were suspended and placed under criminal investigation for allegedly lying under oath about the incident. The footage, first obtained by The New York Times, raises questions about why federal investigators waited nearly three weeks after charging the men to review the video, despite having access to it within hours of the shooting.

Coverage comparison

Reporting from The Guardian and the South China Morning Post both detail the video's release and the subsequent suspensions of the two officers involved in the January 14 incident. Both note that federal authorities dropped all charges against the two men, identified by The Guardian as Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.

ProPublica, in partnership with FRONTLINE, offers additional context through its documentary "Caught in the Crackdown," which examines federal agents' use of force during immigration enforcement operations. The documentary includes footage of agents using tear gas and pepper balls against protesters in a Minneapolis neighborhood following the fatal shooting of activist Renee Good by an ICE agent.

The Guardian specifically highlights Mayor Jacob Frey's statement that the video "makes it crystal clear" that the federal government's account "simply does not match the facts" — a sentiment echoed by state and county prosecutors frustrated by federal authorities' refusal to share information about the shooting.

The South China Morning Post takes a more neutral tone, focusing on the video's implications for the investigation without additional commentary.

Key claims

  • Minneapolis released security camera footage showing a chase and scuffle that ended in a non-fatal shooting during an immigration enforcement operation on January 14. The video contradicts the initial ICE account of the incident, according to The Guardian and the South China Morning Post. Mayor Frey stated the footage shows the federal government's account does not match the facts.
  • Two federal officers were suspended and are under investigation for allegedly lying under oath about the incident, as reported by both The Guardian and the South China Morning Post. The criminal investigation was opened after charges against the two Venezuelan men were dropped in February.
  • Federal authorities dropped all charges against the two Venezuelan men due to newly discovered evidence, per both outlets. The Guardian identifies the men as Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.
  • The video was released after The New York Times reported that federal investigators had access to the footage within hours of the shooting but did not watch it until nearly three weeks after charging the men, according to The Guardian and the South China Morning Post.
  • The incident is part of the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge immigration crackdown in Minnesota, as described by The Guardian and ProPublica.
  • In a separate incident documented by ProPublica and FRONTLINE, federal agents used tear gas and pepper balls against protesters in a Minneapolis neighborhood following the fatal shooting of activist Renee Good. The footage shows an agent firing pepper balls into a crowd, striking a ProPublica reporter, and another agent pepper-spraying protesters and a news photographer at close range.
  • ProPublica also reports that the Trump administration's immigration crackdown has led to the arrest of hundreds of U.S. citizens who were protesting or observing the raids, though this claim has not been independently verified.
  • Legal cases against many protesters have been falling apart due to contradictory video evidence and witness testimony, according to ProPublica's documentary. This claim is based on single-source reporting.

Perspectives

Mayor Jacob Frey and local prosecutors have expressed frustration with federal authorities' lack of transparency, stating the video demonstrates that the federal government's account does not match the facts. This perspective, reported by The Guardian, suggests a broader pattern of discrepancies during Operation Metro Surge.

Federal authorities have not publicly commented on the video's release. However, the suspensions of two officers and the criminal investigation into their testimony indicate internal acknowledgment of potential misconduct.

ProPublica and FRONTLINE's documentary "Caught in the Crackdown" presents a critical view of federal agents' use of force during immigration enforcement, highlighting incidents of tear gas and pepper ball use against protesters. The film suggests that such tactics have led to questionable arrests and collapsing legal cases.

The South China Morning Post's neutral reporting focuses on the factual developments without editorial commentary, serving as a counterpoint to the more investigative angles of The Guardian and ProPublica.