Incident details
- Date of incident
- January 24, 2026
- Location
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Assailant
- Law enforcement
- Was the journalist targeted?
- Yes
Assault
Federal agents monitor protests in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 24, 2026, following the fatal shooting of resident Alex Pretti that morning. Independent journalist Sean Beckner-Carmitchel was pepper-sprayed while covering the demonstration.
Independent journalist Sean Beckner-Carmitchel was deliberately drenched in pepper spray by Department of Homeland Security officers while reporting on immigration protests in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 24, 2026.
Demonstrations in the Twin Cities area have been mounting since the beginning of January, following the expansion of an immigration enforcement crackdown known as Operation Metro Surge. Earlier that day, federal officers shot and killed Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti as he filmed their activities and attempted to help a woman they had pushed to the ground.
Beckner-Carmitchel wrote on social media that protesters who had gathered less than a block from where Pretti had been killed were targeted with “a large volley of teargas, and sprayed with chemical munitions.”
“I got absolutely covered in spray,” he added in a subsequent post. “Really grateful to some protesters who have helped remove the dousing all over one of my jackets, face and camera.”
Beckner-Carmitchel told Freedom of the Press Foundation — of which the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker is a project — that the incident felt both intentional and extreme. He added that he was wearing his Los Angeles Press Club press credentials on his camera strap and was standing close enough to the officers to be identifiable as a journalist.
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests concerning the agents’ actions that day.
The Tracker was unable to ascertain whether his Sony camera sustained any damage and Beckner-Carmitchel did not respond to requests for further comment.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogs press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
