FBI Arrests Man Suspected of Smashing Windows At Federal Courthouse In MN
Federal authorities have arrested a Minneapolis man accused of attacking a federal courthouse during violent unrest earlier this month, underscoring the Trump administration’s hardline response to assaults on law enforcement and federal property.
The FBI confirmed the arrest of Georgio James-Jones, a local resident suspected of damaging windows at the Diana E. Murphy U.S. Courthouse during a January 7 protest, according to Fox News. The protest erupted following the fatal shooting of agitator Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent—a shooting federal officials have said was an act of self-defense.
Authorities allege that during the chaos, James-Jones attempted to force entry into the federal courthouse and smashed multiple windows as crowds gathered outside, shouting and pounding on doors while chanting anti-ICE slogans.
In a statement posted on X, FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest and issued a warning to those targeting law enforcement.
“This week, the FBI and partners arrested Georgio James-Jones – the individual who allegedly smashed windows attempting to breach a federal courthouse in Minneapolis last week. As the FBI has said repeatedly – if you attack law enforcement, impede their operations, or engage in violent, destructive behavior, this FBI will find you and bring you to justice,” Patel said.
Video footage circulating online from the January 7 disturbance shows demonstrators swarming the courthouse, banging on glass, and attempting to intimidate federal officers inside.
The incident occurred amid wider unrest in Minneapolis tied to stepped-up federal immigration enforcement under President Donald J. Trump, whose administration has made clear it will not tolerate violence against agents carrying out lawful duties. In response to the unrest, federal authorities have expanded their presence in the city, while the Department of Justice has deployed additional officers and prosecutors to address vandalism, riots, and public safety threats.
Meanwhile, a federal judge declined to immediately block the Trump administration’s intensified immigration operations in Minnesota, allowing enforcement actions to continue for now.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez, a Biden appointee, rejected an emergency request to halt federal immigration sweeps, citing insufficient time to fully evaluate the legal arguments behind a proposed temporary restraining order.
Menendez heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by the State of Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, which seek to stop ICE and other federal agencies from conducting enforcement operations across the state. The plaintiffs claim the federal effort involves warrantless arrests, excessive force, and alleged constitutional violations.
The judge said she could not issue a ruling immediately due to the complexity of the case and the lack of clear precedent governing such challenges to federal immigration authority.
“That should not be taken as a prejudgment of the merits of either the plaintiff’s case or the anticipated defense that may be raised by the United States,” Menendez said. “It is simply observing that these are grave and important matters and that they are somewhat frontier issues in constitutional law.”
She ordered the Justice Department to respond by January 19, with additional filings from state officials due by January 22, and said a ruling would come later this month.
State officials, including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, accused federal agents of heavy-handed tactics that allegedly undermine public trust. Federal attorneys countered that the operations are lawful, constitutional, and necessary, noting the limited precedent for courts restricting federal agents from executing their statutory duties anywhere in the United States.
As a result, immigration enforcement operations will continue while the court reviews the case.
Reports also suggest enforcement activity may be expanding at sensitive locations, including Hennepin County Medical Center, the state’s largest public safety-net hospital, and Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport. According to MPR News, ICE agents have escorted detainees into hospitals and, according to anonymous nursing staff, have been present during some patient appointments.
For the Trump administration, the message remains consistent: violent unrest will be met with arrests, and federal law enforcement will be backed—not abandoned—while carrying out the law.