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DHS Escalates Review of 2022 Minneapolis Shooting

  //travel-leisure.news-articles.net/content/2026/ .. calates-review-of-2022-minneapolis-shooting.html
  Published in Travel and Leisure on Sunday, February 8th 2026 at 5:23 GMT by tampabay28.com
      Locale: Minnesota, UNITED STATES

Minneapolis, MN - February 8th, 2026 - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is escalating its review of body camera footage connected to the 2022 shooting of a protestor during demonstrations following the death of Amir Locke, a Minneapolis resident fatally shot during a police no-knock raid. What began as a focused assessment of potential federal involvement has broadened into a comprehensive examination of inter-agency coordination and the use of federal resources during the unrest, according to sources within DHS. The review, initially prompted by questions surrounding the degree of federal participation in the aftermath of the shooting, is now extending to a re-evaluation of protocols governing federal law enforcement presence at local protests.

Amir Locke's death in August 2022, during a raid on his apartment executed while serving a warrant in a separate investigation, ignited widespread outrage and renewed calls for police reform in Minneapolis and across the nation. The incident, captured on body-worn camera footage and released to the public, showed Locke, who was not the subject of the warrant, being shot by a Minneapolis police officer within seconds of officers entering the apartment. The shooting sparked days of often-volatile protests, demanding accountability for the officers involved and addressing systemic issues within the Minneapolis Police Department.

The initial DHS review, as reported in early 2026, focused on establishing whether any federal law enforcement agencies - including DHS components like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) - were actively involved in responding to the protests or providing support to local law enforcement. The scope has now expanded significantly, fueled by leaked internal memos suggesting concerns within DHS regarding the deployment of federal agents and the potential for overreach. These memos, partially obtained by The Associated Press through Freedom of Information Act requests, reportedly detail disagreements between DHS officials regarding the appropriate level of federal intervention.

"We are looking at everything - the deployment authorization, the rules of engagement, the communication between federal and local agencies, and the extent to which federal resources were utilized," stated a senior DHS official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation. "The goal is not to assign blame, but to learn from this experience and ensure that we are better prepared to handle similar situations in the future, while respecting the rights of protestors and upholding the law."

Several civil liberties organizations are closely monitoring the DHS review and demanding full transparency. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Minnesota has called for the public release of the full body camera footage, as well as any internal DHS reports related to the investigation. "The public deserves to know the full extent of federal involvement in the response to these protests," said ACLU-Minnesota Executive Director Sheila Williams. "The use of federal resources should be subject to strict oversight and accountability, and any violations of constitutional rights must be addressed."

The timing of the DHS review coincides with a renewed national debate over police accountability and the role of federal agencies in local law enforcement matters. In recent years, there has been increasing scrutiny of federal programs that provide funding and equipment to state and local police departments, as well as concerns about the militarization of law enforcement. The Minneapolis shooting, and the subsequent protests, have become a focal point for these broader discussions. Furthermore, the city of Minneapolis is currently undergoing a comprehensive overhaul of its police department, spurred by the findings of a Department of Justice investigation that identified a pattern of excessive force and discriminatory policing practices.

The DHS promises to release a preliminary report on its findings by late spring 2026. However, legal experts anticipate that the investigation could take considerably longer, given the complexity of the issues involved and the potential for legal challenges. The outcome of the review could have significant implications for the future of federal law enforcement's involvement in local protests, and for the ongoing efforts to improve police accountability and transparency nationwide.