A Minneapolis family says a routine drive home turned into a medical emergency after they were caught between protesters and federal immigration officers, when a tear gas canister was allegedly pushed beneath their SUV, filling it with chemical fumes.
Destiny Jackson said she, her husband, and their six children were returning from a middle school basketball game Wednesday night when they encountered a blocked street in north Minneapolis. The area was near an earlier confrontation in which a federal officer shot a man in the leg during an attempted arrest, according to authorities.
Jackson said the scene initially appeared calm, with people standing around observing. When she spotted her mother nearby, Jackson said she spent nearly half an hour trying to convince her to leave the area. As tensions escalated, she began hearing flash-bang grenades and noticed smoke spreading through the street.
With protesters surrounding their vehicle, the family attempted to drive away but encountered federal officers who told them to leave. Jackson said they waited for an opportunity to move safely, aware of prior incidents involving officers and vehicles. As they began to pull away, she says an officer rolled a tear gas canister beneath their SUV.
Moments later, Jackson said she heard a loud explosion and the airbags deployed. The vehicle quickly filled with gas, causing her children to panic and struggle to breathe. She said her 6-month-old son became unresponsive, prompting the family to rush everyone out of the car.
Emergency responders were alerted to an infant in respiratory distress and worked through the crowd to reach the family. According to CNN, a family member performed CPR on the baby before responders arrived. Fire officials later said the infant was breathing but in serious condition when transported to the hospital.
Jackson said she, her husband, and three of their children — including the infant, a 7-year-old, and an 11-year-old — required hospital treatment.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said officers were responding to violent agitators and denied that the family was intentionally targeted. Jackson said since sharing her story publicly, she has received threats and hateful messages but maintains that her family was simply trying to get home.
SOURCE: WHSV3