Minneapolis descended into chaos this week, culminating in the arrest of a Latin Kings gang member for a brazen theft from a federal vehicle. The incident unfolded against a backdrop of escalating unrest following a confrontation between an ICE agent and a Venezuelan national.
The initial spark ignited Wednesday night when an ICE agent, facing a direct threat, discharged a firearm in self-defense against an individual wielding a shovel. This event immediately fueled outrage and triggered violent riots that stretched into the early hours of Thursday.
Adding fuel to the fire, the state’s governor had, in a public address, encouraged citizens to actively monitor, harass, and record ICE agents. This rhetoric appeared to embolden rioters who targeted federal vehicles with destructive force.
The violence quickly escalated beyond mere protest. Multiple ICE vehicles were vandalized and looted, with rioters making off with laptops, sensitive documents, and, most alarmingly, a rifle and ammunition.
Footage surfaced showing the theft of the weapon, and a determined citizen journalist captured the face of the perpetrator and the license plate of the getaway vehicle. The images were quickly circulated, appealing for public assistance in identifying the suspect.
The search didn’t last long. Within 24 hours, authorities announced the arrest of Raul Gutierrez, a 33-year-old identified as a member of the Latin Kings, a notorious and expansive Hispanic street gang with a global reach.
FBI Director Kash Patel revealed Gutierrez has a documented history of violent criminal activity. This wasn’t an isolated act of opportunistic crime, but a calculated theft by an individual already known to law enforcement.
The arrest came as a result of collaborative efforts between the FBI and the ATF, highlighting the seriousness with which federal agencies are treating the situation. The stolen rifle has been recovered.
Intelligence suggests this incident is part of a larger pattern of escalating hostility towards federal agents. Just months prior, Latin Kings leadership allegedly issued a “shoot on sight” directive targeting Border Patrol agents involved in operations in Chicago.
Gutierrez’s extensive criminal record, combined with the gang’s alleged directive, paints a disturbing picture of a deliberate and dangerous escalation of violence against those enforcing federal law.
