In the days after heightened federal activity in Minneapolis, including a widely reported shooting by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer that wounded a migrant and sparked protests, unrest spread through parts of the city.
During one of these protests, federal personnel were forced to abandon vehicles, including an unmarked FBI vehicle, as the crowd grew and tensions escalated. According to a federal announcement, Raul Gutierrez, 33, of Minneapolis, was charged with breaking into the FBI vehicle and stealing a rifle and other government property. Prosecutors allege Gutierrez is a member of the Latin Kings gang and previously convicted of felony offenses, and he now faces federal charges including possession of a firearm as a felon and theft of government property.
Officials say the rifle was later recovered with the help of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after the theft was reported. Federal leaders from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ATF, and the Department of Justice emphasized that damaging or stealing government property endangers public safety and that arrests were made to hold those involved accountable.
Different perspectives have emerged about the broader unrest. Some law enforcement and federal officials framed the charges and response as evidence that they will pursue criminal behavior even amid protest movements. Meanwhile, local leaders and community members have voiced concern about the underlying conditions prompting protests—including the federal shooting and wider debates over enforcement policies—which has contributed to a complex, emotionally charged atmosphere.