Alleged Gang Member Arrested After Stealing Rifle From FBI Vehicle
Following increased federal operations in Minneapolis, a shooting by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer that injured a migrant led to widespread reports and triggered protests. This incident caused unrest to spread through sections of the city.
As demonstrations intensified, so did clashes between protesters and federal agents. The escalating volatility at one protest forced officers to retreat, leaving several of their vehicles behind.
One abandoned vehicle was an unmarked FBI car. Authorities later confirmed that this vehicle was broken into amid the chaos.
Federal prosecutors have charged 33-year-old Minneapolis resident Raul Gutierrez with breaking into that FBI vehicle. They allege he stole a rifle and additional government property.
According to officials, Gutierrez is identified as being affiliated with the Latin Kings gang and has previous felony convictions. His federal charges now include firearm possession by a felon and theft of government property.
The stolen rifle was subsequently recovered. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted in locating the weapon after the theft was reported.
FBI, ATF, and Department of Justice leaders warned that damaging or stealing government property seriously endangers public safety, vowing to hold perpetrators accountable. Meanwhile, local leaders and community members cite the initial federal shooting and broader enforcement policies as central causes of the heightened tensions, presenting a perspective that contrasts with the federal focus on criminal enforcement.
