Photojournalist struck in stomach with pepper ball at Minnesota protest

Freelance photojournalist Tim Evans was shot with a crowd-control munition by law enforcement while reporting on protests in response to a federal immigration enforcement raid in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Nov. 25, 2025.

The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that while federal authorities — including agents from Homeland Security Investigations — conducted a raid at a home, St. Paul Police Department officers formed a perimeter to keep the mounting protest at bay.

Evans, who was not immediately available for comment, told the Minnesota Public Radio that he was on assignment that day for Reuters and was wearing a vest marked with “Press.” He was also working near two fellow photojournalists — Kerem Yücel of MPR and Aaron Nesheim of Sahan Journal — most of the day.

As federal officers prepared to leave, police tried to clear the area, but the scene devolved into chaos.

Evans told the outlet that police began shooting pepper balls at the feet of protesters, who in turn threw objects toward the officers. Amid the protest response, all three photojournalists were shot with crowd-control munitions.

“One of the guys looks at me and shoots me in the stomach as I’m photographing,” Evans told MPR. The pepper ball left a black-and-blue welt, he added.

Nesheim said he saw Yücel struck in the shoulder with a crowd-control munition. Shortly after, a pepper ball grazed Nesheim’s head.

All three photojournalists told MPR that they were clearly identifiable as press and believe police deliberately targeted them for doing their jobs. None of them reported hearing any verbal warnings before officers opened fire.

In an emailed statement to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, police Chief Axel Henry said that a full review of the department’s response Nov. 25 is underway.

“We are committed to a thorough review. This consists of viewing hundreds of hours of body camera footage, as well as footage being shared by community members,” Henry wrote. “We are also actively seeking to arrange meetings with local law enforcement leaders and federal law enforcement to create sustainable prevention strategies for our city and the rest of the state.”

The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists condemned the attacks, noting that, “Attacking journalists sends a message to both journalists and everyday citizens that their First Amendment rights will not be respected.

“Photojournalists are on the frontlines of documenting history and it is imperative that they are kept safe and their First Amendment rights are protected,” it added.