A disturbing image captured in downtown Minneapolis over the weekend shows a man openly carrying what appears to be a high-powered firearm as anti-ICE unrest in the city continues to escalate, raising fresh concerns about public safety and the breakdown of law and order.
🚨SPOTTED in downtown Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/u7akZtdz1A
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 17, 2026
🚨 BREAKING: Leftists in Minneapolis are getting armed and standing guard against ICE
Leftist with a rifle: “This is MY neighborhood!”
Mr. Tough Guy wouldn’t last 2 seconds.
THIS is what Tim Walz and Mayor Frey want. A shootout. CHARGE THEM!
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 18, 2026
The photo, taken Saturday by the Daily Caller News Foundation, shows the armed individual amid ongoing demonstrations near Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities. The sight comes as violence linked to anti-ICE protests has intensified over the past week, with multiple incidents targeting both federal agents and members of the press.
Attacks on journalists have become increasingly common. Last Sunday, independent reporters Nick Sortor and Cam Higby were forced to flee after being surrounded by a hostile mob during the unrest. The situation deteriorated further Wednesday when an ICE agent was ambushed, an attack that left the agent hospitalized. These incidents have fueled growing alarm among law enforcement officials and residents who say the protests have crossed the line from demonstration into outright lawlessness.
In another troubling episode, a member of the Latin Kings gang allegedly broke into a vehicle supporting the FBI and made off with a rifle before being arrested, according to local reporting. The theft of a firearm from a federal vehicle amid street unrest has underscored how volatile the situation has become and how easily violence could spiral further out of control.
Crowds have continued to swell outside ICE headquarters in Minneapolis, according to reporting from the scene. The sustained protests and recurring clashes between anti-ICE demonstrators and counter-protesters have prompted an increased police presence throughout the area. Authorities say the confrontations have required regular law enforcement intervention as tensions remain high.
The Pentagon has reportedly prepared 1,500 troops for potential deployment to Minneapolis should the violence continue to escalate. The move reflects growing concern at the federal level that local resources may be insufficient to contain the unrest if it continues to intensify.
Since January 7, approximately 30 protest-related arrests have been made, according to a statement from a Minneapolis Police Department spokesperson. Officials say those arrests stem from a range of offenses tied to the demonstrations, as police attempt to keep order amid increasingly chaotic scenes.
City leaders have responded with messaging calling for calm. The City of Minneapolis released a video urging “peaceful protest,” though the backdrop of the message included anti-ICE signage. Critics argue that such statements ring hollow as armed individuals appear in public spaces and federal officers are targeted.
The protests erupted following the January 7 shooting death of Renee Good during an ICE enforcement operation. Authorities have said Good allegedly attempted to run over an ICE agent with her vehicle, prompting the use of deadly force. Her death has since become a rallying cry for anti-ICE activists, even as violence connected to the demonstrations continues to mount.
The image of an armed man openly carrying a rifle in downtown Minneapolis has become a symbol of how far the situation has deteriorated. With federal agents under attack, journalists being chased out of the city, and gangs allegedly stealing weapons, the unrest has raised urgent questions about public safety, enforcement, and how much longer the city can withstand the chaos without stronger intervention.
