On January 15, 2026, a CNN news team was targeted with flash-bangs and tear gas while covering protests in Minneapolis, Minnesota, related to ICE enforcement operations. The protests intensified following the January 7 shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent.
CNN reporter Whitney Wild and her crew were in the midst of the turmoil as protests unfolded in response to the officer’s action. The situation deteriorated when law enforcement used crowd control methods in the vicinity of the CNN crew. Senior crime and justice correspondent Shimon Prokupecz, also with CNN, was near a tear gas canister when it was detonated.
As reported by CNN, the tear gas induced such a thick fog that Wild lost contact with her cameraman and crew.
The public in Minneapolis reacted swiftly to the shooting involving the federal officer, Jonathan Ross, resulting in protest marches. The Department of Homeland Security, under whose jurisdiction the officer falls, confirmed the incident, although the specifics still remain under investigation.
Across the nation, ICE, a branch of DHS, has been conducting law enforcement operations. These activities have frequently incited public protests in various cities, with Minneapolis being the most recent site of escalating tensions between demonstrators and law enforcement.
Law enforcement typically uses flash-bangs and tear gas as standard crowd control measures when protests pose safety risks or require crowd dispersal. Flash-bangs, or stun grenades, temporarily disorient people by emitting a blinding light and loud noise. Tear gas, a chemical irritant, compels individuals to evacuate the affected area.
Shawn and Destiny Jackson were returning from their son’s basketball game with their six children. They had stopped for groceries and were on their usual route home on Lyndale when they found themselves in the midst of the disorder. Law enforcement had begun using tear gas and flash-bangs for crowd control in their vicinity.
Destiny Jackson described watching a flashbang roll under their car before it exploded. Upon realizing that their youngest child, only six months old, was still in the vehicle, bystanders rushed to help. Destiny reported that the last child brought in appeared lifeless, with foam around his mouth and tears in his eyes. An ambulance eventually arrived and transported them to the hospital.
Journalists covering civil unrest often face exposure to crowd control measures, creating potential occupational hazards. Despite being equipped with protective gear, news crews can be caught off guard by the sudden deployment of these tactics, particularly when embedded within crowds.
Wild’s separation from her crew exemplifies the practical challenges journalists encounter when reporting on volatile situations. Maintaining visual and physical contact is necessary for ongoing broadcasting, but the dense fog from tear gas can severely limit visibility, compromising both the safety of the news team and their ability to report on the unfolding events.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, has a complex history with federal law enforcement operations and protests. The city has been a hotbed for demonstrations in recent years, and tensions between various communities and law enforcement continue to persist. Incidents involving federal officers, particularly shootings, often incite larger and more intense public responses than routine local police matters.
The presence of the media at protests plays a crucial role in documenting protester actions and law enforcement responses. However, journalists frequently find themselves in precarious positions while covering these events. Media credentials and visible identification do not always shield reporters from the effects of crowd control measures deployed over wide areas.
News organizations invest substantial resources in training their field teams to operate safely in hostile environments. The experience of the CNN crew in Minneapolis serves as a pointed reminder of the risks journalists accept when covering civil unrest and federal law enforcement operations.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez issued a preliminary injunction on January 16, barring federal immigration officers participating in Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis from using tear gas, pepper spray, flash-bangs, and other crowd-control munitions against peaceful protesters who are not obstructing authorities.
This injunction, the result of a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Minnesota on behalf of six activists, explicitly protects demonstrators and bystanders who observe and record immigration enforcement operations. It also prohibits stopping vehicles that are lawfully following officers at a safe distance. A DHS spokesperson responded by stating measures are being taken to protect officers from what it described as “dangerous rioters.”
On January 22, 2026, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay that blocked Judge Menendez’s preliminary injunction, allowing federal immigration officers to resume using crowd-control measures during enforcement operations. The appellate stay remains in effect as the legal challenge proceeds through the courts.
On January 24, Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, was shot to death by a border control agent during a scuffle.