A routine drive home for the Jackson family turned into a medical emergency that has since drawn national attention and renewed scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement operations in the Twin Cities. Shawn Jackson, his wife Destiny Jackson, and several of their six children were hospitalized after a tear gas canister deployed by a federal officer rolled beneath their family’s SUV, filling the vehicle with toxic fumes.
The incident occurred in north Minneapolis amid heightened tensions following a federal operation that sparked protests and a heavy law enforcement response. The Jacksons say they were not participating in any demonstration and became unintentionally trapped between protesters and officers, underscoring how rapidly escalating enforcement actions can engulf bystanders with devastating consequences.
At the center of the incident is Destiny Jackson, 26, who described a chain of events that unfolded quickly but left lasting physical and emotional effects on her family. According to her account, the family had been returning home from a middle school basketball game when they encountered a blocked-off street near the site of an earlier confrontation involving federal officers. What initially appeared to be a calm gathering soon turned volatile, culminating in the discharge of tear gas that injured multiple members of the family, including a six-month-old infant.
A Drive Home Interrupted by Escalating Tensions
The Jackson family’s evening began without incident. Destiny Jackson said they were driving home through north Minneapolis after attending a basketball game for one of their children. As they approached their usual route, they encountered a street closure near an area where a federal officer had earlier shot a man in the leg during an attempted arrest. Federal authorities later said the officer acted after being attacked, but the shooting had already drawn crowds and heightened emotions.
Jackson said that when they first arrived, people were standing around and the atmosphere did not feel immediately dangerous. Believing it was safe to pause briefly, the family stopped to ask what was happening. It was then that Destiny noticed her mother among the crowd. Concerned for her safety, she said she spent between 20 and 30 minutes trying to convince her mother to leave the area and go home.
During that time, the situation began to change. Jackson said she heard flash-bang grenades detonating further up the street and noticed smoke lingering in the air. Protesters began filling the roadway more densely, and the presence of federal officers became more apparent. As conditions grew increasingly tense, the Jacksons decided it was time to leave.
Their attempt to exit was complicated by the congestion of people and law enforcement vehicles. Jackson said they encountered federal officers who instructed them to leave the area. She described waiting until officers walked past, believing this would create a safe opening to drive away. Her caution was informed by a recent and widely reported incident in which Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by a federal agent during an enforcement operation while she was in her vehicle, an event that had deeply unsettled many in the community.
They tear gassed a car with three small children, AFTER the father had already asked DHS to leave with his family. They gave him permission and then tear gassed his car with a six month old inside. This is not fucking normal. pic.twitter.com/50M7BKVBgq
— Josie (@josie_yerhot) January 15, 2026
It was at this moment, Jackson said, that an officer rolled a tear gas canister beneath their SUV. She recalled hearing a loud boom, after which the vehicle’s airbags deployed. Almost immediately, the interior of the SUV filled with noxious gas, making it impossible to breathe and plunging the family into panic.
Tear Gas Exposure and a Medical Emergency Involving Children
The effects of the tear gas were swift and severe. Destiny Jackson said her children began crying and screaming, saying they could not breathe. She rushed to unlock the doors and get them out of the vehicle as quickly as possible. Amid the chaos, she noticed that her six-month-old son’s eyes were closed and that he was not moving, a sight she described as terrifying.
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First responders later confirmed they received reports of an infant experiencing respiratory distress. According to local authorities, emergency crews had to navigate through crowds to reach the family. The fire department said the infant was breathing and stable but was initially considered to be in serious condition before being transported to the hospital for further treatment. In total, Jackson said she, her husband Shawn Jackson, and three of their children required hospital care. Those treated included the infant, a seven-year-old, and an eleven-year-old.
The family members reportedly suffered from symptoms consistent with tear gas exposure, such as breathing difficulties, eye irritation, and distress severe enough to warrant medical evaluation. Tear gas, while commonly used for crowd control, is known to pose heightened risks to children, infants, and individuals with underlying health conditions. Medical experts have long warned that enclosed-space exposure, such as inside a vehicle, can intensify its effects.
In this case, the deployment of a canister beneath the SUV effectively trapped the gas inside the vehicle, creating conditions that quickly overwhelmed the occupants. The incident has raised questions about the proportionality and safety of law enforcement tactics in densely populated urban areas, particularly when families and children are present. For the Jacksons, the experience was not just physically harmful but deeply traumatizing, leaving them shaken and fearful in the aftermath.
Official Response, Public Reaction, and Ongoing Fallout
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security disputed the characterization that the Jackson family was targeted. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the agency, said officers were responding to crowds of what she described as “rioters and agitators” and emphasized that the Jacksons and their children were not intentionally singled out. According to the department, officers were attempting to manage a volatile situation involving large and potentially dangerous crowds.
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Despite this statement, the family’s account has resonated widely, particularly among Minneapolis and St. Paul residents who say aggressive federal operations have begun to affect people far beyond those directly involved in protests or enforcement actions. The Jackson family’s experience has been cited as an example of how quickly ordinary residents can become collateral victims during large-scale crackdowns.
Since Destiny Jackson shared her story online, she said the response has been overwhelming and, at times, frightening. While many messages expressed sympathy and support, she also reported receiving threats and hateful communications. The attention has added another layer of stress to an already harrowing ordeal.
Jackson said she tries to focus on the facts of what happened and her intentions that night. She maintains that her family was simply trying to get home safely and had no desire to be involved in any confrontation. Her comments reflect a broader concern among community members who worry about the risks posed to uninvolved civilians during heavily militarized law enforcement actions.
The incident comes amid what has been described as the Trump administration’s largest immigration enforcement crackdown to date in the region. Federal operations have sparked protests, community backlash, and legal challenges, with critics arguing that the tactics employed increase the likelihood of harm to bystanders. Supporters of the operations, meanwhile, contend that officers are operating under difficult conditions and facing hostile crowds.
As of now, it remains unclear whether the incident involving the Jackson family will lead to any formal investigation or policy review. Civil rights advocates have called for greater transparency and accountability, particularly when children are injured during law enforcement actions. For the Jacksons, the priority remains their children’s recovery and a return to a sense of safety.
Destiny Jackson has been clear about one thing: she never expected a drive home from a school basketball game to end in a hospital visit for half her family. Her account highlights the unpredictable and far-reaching impact of enforcement operations carried out in residential neighborhoods, raising difficult questions about public safety, policing tactics, and the protection of innocent civilians caught in the middle.
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