As protests in north Minneapolis were already tense, a family found themselves caught in the chaos. Tragically, it was the children who paid the price. Shawn and Destiny Jackson’s six kids, including a 6-month-old baby, were hospitalized after law enforcement’s flash bangs and tear gas hit their family van in the middle of the protests.
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Infant In Danger, Parents Scramble As Car Fills With Tear Gas
According to Shawn Jackson, the blasts thrown by federal agents were so powerful they set off his vehicle’s airbags. “Officers threw flash bangs and tear gas in my car. I got six kids in the car… My 6-month-old can’t even breathe. This was flipped over,” he said, holding up his baby’s car seat.
Additionally, the family was scrambling to get the kids out as their car filled with tear gas. Destiny said she had to perform CPR on their infant, who had lost consciousness. Meanwhile, she poured milk over her other children to help neutralize the tear gas. Three of the children, including the baby, were then rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Innocent Family Caught In Chaos As Protest Turns Violent
The Jacksons, all completely innocent bystanders, say they had no intentions of joining the protests but are now feeling the ripple effects firsthand.
“My kids were innocent, I was innocent, my husband was innocent, this shouldn’t have happened. We were just trying to go home,” Destiny said.
Minneapolis police reported that the demonstrations escalated into violence, with some people throwing fireworks, rocks, and ice at officers, prompting the use of tear gas and flash bangs. The Jackson family has also set up a GoFundMe to help cover medical bills, replace their damaged car, and support their kids as they recover from this traumatizing experience.
ICE Shooting Erupts Minutes Later
And, the chaos didn’t stop in Minneapolis that night. While the Jackson family was struggling to get their kids out of a van filled with tear gas, officials say a separate violent encounter erupted just minutes later. The Department of Homeland Security reported that law enforcement attempting a targeted stop were allegedly attacked with a shovel or broom. This reportedly led a man to flee, crash his vehicle, and continue on foot. Furthermore, it eventually prompted an ICE agent to fire in self‑defense.
Two other men allegedly joined in with makeshift weapons. They left the first man hospitalized with a leg wound and the others taken into custody. The incidents sent the area into full‑blown chaos, with protesters throwing fireworks, rocks, and ice at officers while tear gas and flash bangs were deployed in an effort to disperse the swelling crowd.
