Rioter bites officer’s finger off in Minneapolis during violent unrest Saturday

By THE ALASKA STORY

Jan. 24, 2026 — A Homeland Security Investigations officer suffered a severe injury after part of his finger was bitten off by a rioter during violent unrest in Minneapolis, federal officials confirmed, as protests escalated following the fatal shooting of a local resident during a federal immigration enforcement operation earlier Saturday.

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According to the Department of Homeland Security, the officer lost the tip of his right ring finger during a confrontation with protesters. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated publicly on X that “rioters attacked our law enforcement officer and one of them bit off our HSI officer’s finger,” adding that the officer “will lose his finger” as a result of the injury.

Graphic images shared by McLaughlin and later circulated by multiple media outlets show the injured officer, the mangled finger, and the severed portion placed in a medical container at a hospital. The photos quickly spread across social media platforms and were published by outlets including Fox News and the New York Post.

The violence unfolded amid escalating protests following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital, who was killed earlier in the day during a federal immigration enforcement operation. Some reports identify the shooter as a Border Patrol agent. The incident triggered large-scale demonstrations, clashes with federal officers, and widespread unrest in parts of the city.

Federal authorities described the demonstrators as “rioters” and released photographs of two individuals allegedly involved in the assault on the HSI officer. As of the latest public statements, officials have not confirmed whether arrests have been made or whether the individual who bit the officer has been formally identified or charged. DHS has not released further details about the precise circumstances of the injury, including whether it occurred during restraint, crowd control efforts, or direct physical struggle.

The protests are part of broader opposition to federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, which have drawn criticism from state and local officials and activist groups. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has publicly criticized the federal presence, referring to it as a “federal occupation,” while some Democratic leaders and activist organizations have condemned the shooting and renewed calls to abolish ICE.

Federal officials, however, have framed the unrest as violent attacks on law enforcement personnel, citing thrown objects, chemical irritants, and direct physical assaults on officers during the disturbances.

While the finger-biting injury has been widely corroborated through DHS statements, photographic evidence, and reporting from multiple outlets, details surrounding the incident remain limited. Investigations into both the officer’s injury and the fatal shooting of Pretti are ongoing, with reported tensions between federal and state authorities over access to scenes and jurisdictional control.

Authorities have not released additional information on potential criminal charges related to the assault on the HSI officer or the broader protest-related violence.