MINNEAPOLIS — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed Wednesday morning that an ICE agent shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis.

The DHS alleged that a woman attempted to ram her car into ICE agents, and an agent shot and hit her. However, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said that narrative is false.

"This 'it was done in self defense' is garbage," Frey said at an afternoon press conference. "They are already trying to spin this is action of self-defense. Having seen the video myself, that is bull****."

 Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said the victim was a 37-year-old woman.

"There is nothing to indicate that she was the target of law enforcement activity," O'Hara said.

Numerous video posts circulating on social media are also challenging the DHS narrative, with several graphic videos showing the interaction between the vehicle and agents and the moment shots are fired before the vehicle crashes. 

CAUTION: The videos below contains graphic language and visuals. Viewer discretion advised.

A witness told KARE 11 that the victim was trying to flee from ICE agents when she was shot dead. 

Hundreds of ICE agents, Minneapolis police officers and neighbors have flocked to the corner of 34th and Portland Avenue near Powderhorn Park as the morning progressed.

A burgundy SUV was visible at the scene with a bullet hole through the driver's side windshield. The SUV then smashed into a light pole, with what appeared to be two damaged cars parked nearby. 

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin issued the following statement: 

"ICE officers in Minneapolis were conducting targeted operations when rioters began blocking ICE officers and one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them."

"An ICE officer fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow officers and the lives of the public, fired defensive shots, used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers. The alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased. Thankfully, the ICE officers who were hurt are expected to make full recoveries."

In a post on X earlier in the morning, Walz asked Minnesotans to remain calm and said his team is working to gather information on the shooting. 

Protestors continue to gather in the neighborhood Wednesday morning and some threw snowballs in the direction of ICE agents. Law enforcement have deployed tear gas and pepper spray. 

KARE 11's Jana Shortal said they saw Minneapolis officers saying, "This is a crime scene," while taping off the area around the damaged cars on Wednesday morning. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara has said his force does not enforce immigration laws. 

Minneapolis Police officers added metal barriers between federal agents and protestors, while stating to the crowd that they are at the scene to keep the peace. 

Minnesota Senator Omar Fateh said in a post on X that he received reports that "a doctor was denied the ability to provide lifesaving CPR by federal law enforcement." 

Fateh, alongside Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and several city council members, are present at 33rd and Portland Avenue on Wednesday morning. Multiple faith leaders have arrived on the scene as well. 

This incident occurred after Homeland Security deployed more than 2,000 ICE agents to the Twin Cities in the "largest DHS operation ever."

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that more than 1,000 people have been arrested in the Twin Cities area as part of the operation. 

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey shared an official statement on X confirming that he knew of a shooting involving an ICE agent. 

"The presence of federal immigration enforcement agents is causing chaos in our city," Frey posted Wednesday morning. "We’re demanding ICE to leave the city immediately. We stand rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities."

WASHINGTON — Fraud in the state of Minnesota is in the national spotlight Wednesday on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Three Minnesota lawmakers are testifying in front of the House Oversight Committee, including State Representative and GOP gubernatorial candidate Kristin Robbins, along with State Reps. Walter Hudson and Marion Rarick. All three Republican lawmakers are members of the Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee in the Minnesota House, which Robbins chairs.

"Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison have either been asleep at the wheel or complicit in a massive fraud involving taxpayer dollars in Minnesota's social services programs," said Rep. James Comer, the Kentucky Republican and chair of the committee who called Wednesday's hearing.

Ranking Democratic committee member Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) agreed "we should fight fraud" but claimed some of the worst fraud was happening in the Trump White House. Garcia argued fraud investigations targeting states like Minnesota are being used "to rip away aid from innocent people who follow the rules and need help in our society."

In her opening statement, Rep. Robbins noted investigations into fraud at day care centers, as well as the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme that has resulted in dozens of convictions connected to the theft of millions of dollars intended to feed children during the pandemic.

"You cannot make this up, the Walz administration has been gaslighting Minnesotans on the scale of the fraud for years," Robbins said, noting the hearings that Republicans have conducted since ending DFL control of the Minnesota House last session. Robbins alleged the Walz administration "did nothing" to combat fraud after taking office.

"The full scope of the problem is not just criminal fraud, but a culture of profiting from government programs in perpetuity. Not as a safety net, but as an industry," said State Rep. Walter Hudson in his opening statement.

Much of the early portion of the hearing focused on the Minnesota Somali community, which Robbins noted in her opening statement.

"It is important to say what is true and to stand up against fake allegations of racism or Islamophobia. Crime is crime no matter who is committing it. It is true that the majority of the fraud in Minnesota has taken place in the Somali community. It is also true that some of our best whistleblowers are from the Somali community," Robbins said.

In his questioning, Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) alleged "there was a political incentive to cover up Somali widespread fraud," with the Minnesota lawmakers agreeing with his assessment that fraud was overlooked by Democrats for political gain.

Former DOJ special counsel Brendan Ballou was called by the Democratic minority to testify in the hearing, stating that 82 Somali Minnesotans have been indicted for fraud out of a population of about 108,000 Somali Minnesotans. 

"When you compare that to one-third of all Americans have a criminal record ... I don't think the statistics really compare," Ballou said.

Minnesota Republican Majority Whip Tom Emmer also participated in the hearing, alleging the Twin Cities media is "complicit," claiming specific outlets have refused to report on fraud. Emmer asked each of the state lawmakers if they had any doubt that Gov. Walz knew about fraud as it was occurring, and all three said they had no doubt.

During their questioning time, many Democratic members of the committee pointed instead to alleged fraud in the Trump White House. Rep. Garcia called out massive fraud schemes in other states that are not receiving hearings in Washington, and alleged the focus on Minnesota is political retribution by the Trump administration.

Gov. Walz and Attorney General Ellison have been asked to testify at a later hearing in early February. Walz has said he's willing to participate, but also suggested that the House Oversight Committee has a track record of "circus hearings."

KARE 11 Investigates has been exposing allegations of fraud in the state of Minnesota for years. Find complete coverage at this link.

ELK RIVER, Minn. — An Elk River man is facing murder charges after he allegedly killed his roommate on Sunday.  

Brandon Donald Rose, 49, is facing two charges of second-degree murder. According to Sherburne County prosecutors, a woman called 911 saying that Rose called and told her that his roommate was dead and he was going to kill himself.  

Elk River Police officers responded to the house and found Rose's roommate on the floor on his back, covered with a large amount of clothing. Officers reported that the man had multiple visible injuries to his head and neck and they declared him dead at the scene.  

Police officers found Rose in a bedroom in the basement with a needle in his arm and a syringe with a blue substance nearby. Rose regained consciousness once officers administered Narcan. 

Rose allegedly told first responders that his roommate had sexually propositioned him and he told him, "I won't do it." Officers reported that Rose's hand appeared swollen and he had spots of blood on his face, clothing and feet. 

The deceased roommate had blue dye on his hands, mouth and nose, which matched the color of the dye on Rose. The man's jaw and eyes were swollen and he had blood on his head, according to the criminal charges. Officers reported red marks and bruising on the man's neck, shoulder and arms. 

Police officers reported finding a shower curtain and a bathrobe belt with blood on them. 

The medical examiner reported a large gash on the back of the victim's head and declared the cause of death as homicide. The medical examiner is investigating the possibility of asphyxiation or blunt force trauma as the cause of death. 

Rose will make his first appearance in court on Jan. 14. 

MINNESOTA, USA — The Trump Administration announced Tuesday that it plans to audit all of Minnesota's Medicaid bills. 

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, known as TV personality "Dr. Oz," announced in a post on X Tuesday night that he notified Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz that all the state's Medicaid bills are under audit. 

Oz stated the audit would target 14 Medicaid programs that the Walz administration has admitted have issues. 

"Until we can verify what is legitimate, we're going to defer payments for the 14 programs that the state self-identified as rife with fraud," Oz said in the video posted on X. "If the state cannot get a handle on this fraud as we move forward, we intend to defer more payments until the state cleans up its act."

Here is the full statement: 

The Trump administration also announced Tuesday it is withholding funding for programs for families with children in five Democratic-led states, including Minnesota, over fraud concerns.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services has a review already underway of Medicaid billing in the 14 programs considered at high risk for fraud.

For providers and caregivers, these reviews mean that Medicare payments will be delayed for a month. An Owatonna woman shared with KARE 11 that without the Medicare payments, she may deal with financial and housing insecurity as she cares for her mother with end-stage kidney failure.

KARE 11 has reported extensively on fraud within the state. You can read more about specific cases at this link. 

ANOKA COUNTY, Minn. — Anoka-Hennepin school district and union leaders have come to a tentative contract agreement Wednesday, just one day before a strike was scheduled to begin. 

In a press release, Anoka-Hennepin Schools shared that leadership came to the agreement early Wednesday morning after a 20-hour mediation session. Union membership must approve the updated contract terms before it moves on to the school board for final approval. 

News of the agreement comes just 24 hours before Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota members had planned to strike. Classes will be in session at district schools on Thursday. 

Anoka-Hennepin Schools did not yet share terms of the agreement on Wednesday morning. In previous negotiations, union leadership said sticking points included pay and the rising costs of health care. 

The union shared a brief message in a Facebook post Wednesday morning: "WHEN WE FIGHT, WE WIN! More details to come but we want to say THANK YOU to everyone for your support and solidarity." 

The school district includes 50 schools and learning centers and is staffed by 3,200 teachers, counselors, social workers and nurses. 

In the press release Wednesday, Anoka-Hennepin Schools stated that 82% of the district's operating budget goes to personnel costs. 

KARE 11 reached out to Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota for a statement and will update this story once that is provided.