BCA statement regarding investigation of ICE fatal shooting in Minneapolis
[January 8, 2026 – 9:58 am] On Jan. 7, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) was notified that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel were involved in a shooting in Minneapolis that resulted in a woman’s death. That morning, after consultation with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI, it was decided that the BCA Force Investigations Unit would conduct a joint investigation with the FBI. The BCA responded promptly to the scene and began coordinating investigative work in good faith.
Later that afternoon, the FBI informed the BCA that the U.S. Attorney’s Office had reversed course: the investigation would now be led solely by the FBI, and the BCA would no longer have access to the case materials, scene evidence or investigative interviews necessary to complete a thorough and independent investigation.
Without complete access to the evidence, witnesses and information collected, we cannot meet the investigative standards that Minnesota law and the public demands. As a result, the BCA has reluctantly withdrawn from the investigation. The BCA Force Investigations Unit was designed to ensure consistency, accountability and public confidence, none of which can be achieved without full cooperation and jurisdictional clarity.
The BCA Force Investigations Unit was created in 2020 by the legislature to provide an independent, consistent and trusted mechanism for investigating use of force incidents involving law enforcement officers. This unit is the result of years of scrutiny, public engagement and bipartisan legislative action following the Deadly Force Encounters Working Group. Minnesotans made it clear that they expect a transparent and thorough process when a peace officer uses deadly force in our state, and the BCA has earned their trust by delivering on that expectation.
We expect the FBI to conduct a thorough and complete investigation and that the full investigative file will be shared with the appropriate prosecutorial authorities at both the state and federal levels.
The BCA remains fully committed to our partnerships to build public trust in use of deadly force investigations. If the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI were to reconsider this approach and express a willingness to resume a joint investigation, the BCA is prepared to reengage in support of our shared goal of public safety in Minnesota.
Governor Walz Readies State Resources, Notifies National Guard to Prepare to Protect Public Safety in Minneapolis Following Federal ICE Shooting
[January 7, 2026 – 3:30 pm] – Following a shooting involving federal ICE agents in Minneapolis, Governor Tim Walz today directed state agencies to mobilize resources to support public safety efforts in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The Governor has directed the National Guard to conduct necessary preparation in the event they are needed to assist local and state authorities. The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) has been activated to coordinate the state’s response and ensure resources are positioned efficiently.
At this time, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is jointly investigating the incident along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). State leadership in the SEOC is also coordinating with Minneapolis and Saint Paul police departments, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Minnesota National Guard.
The Minnesota State Patrol has mobilized 85 members of its Mobile Response Team to support law enforcement efforts in the Twin Cities. The National Guard remains on standby and is prepared to deploy if needed to assist with public safety and emergency response operations.
“Our top priority is keeping Minnesotans safe,” said Governor Walz. “State and local leaders are taking every step to support law enforcement and protect residents and state resources have been deployed to ensure our neighborhoods remain safe. We have repeatedly warned that this federal mobilization was putting residents at risk. I encourage Minnesotans to remain calm. This mobilization was about putting on a show from the beginning – let’s not give it to them.”
The SEOC will continue to oversee state response efforts, coordinating the Guard, State Patrol, and other agencies to respond quickly to threats and ensure public safety.
Home damaged by chimney fire South of Bagley
[January 7, 2026 – 3:55 pm] A Bagley man is facing the middle of winter without heat after a chimney fire destroyed his lifelong family home late Saturday night on Stockyard Road. The fire broke out on January 4, leaving the chimney completely destroyed, the oil furnace unusable, and significant water damage in the basement, though the homeowner was not injured, according to the GoFundMe.
The family of Mike Hromidko has launched a GoFundMe to urgently restore heat and prevent burst pipes that could cause further damage.
“He’s safe but has no heat as the fire took out the chimney. And oil furnace is also unusable. Trying to get some funds going to help him get some heat and fix the water damage in the basement. That’s been his childhood home all his life mine too as I grew up out there too with my grandma,” the GoFundMe shared.