A Minneapolis family found themselves caught in the chaos this week, victims of a harrowing encounter with law enforcement during heightened tensions in the city. Destiny Jackson, 26, recounts a terrifying ordeal where a tear gas canister was deployed directly under her family’s SUV, engulfing the vehicle in toxic fumes.
The incident unfolded as the Jackson family was returning home from a basketball game, unknowingly driving towards a blocked street near a recent shooting involving federal officers. A man had been shot in the leg after allegedly attacking an officer attempting an arrest, and a crowd had gathered.
Initially, the scene appeared relatively calm, prompting the family to stop and inquire about the situation. Destiny Jackson then spotted her mother in the crowd, spending precious minutes urging her to leave, haunted by images of similar confrontations seen on television.
As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, punctuated by the sounds of flash-bang grenades and lingering smoke, the family attempted to drive away. They encountered federal officers who directed them to leave, a directive they cautiously awaited to follow.
Remembering the tragic death of Renee Good, a woman shot while inside her vehicle, Jackson believed they had found a safe moment to escape. But as they began to move, an officer rolled a tear gas canister directly beneath their SUV.
The resulting explosion triggered the vehicle’s airbags, and a suffocating cloud of gas filled the interior. Panic erupted as Jackson’s six children, including a six-month-old infant, screamed and struggled to breathe.
Jackson frantically unlocked the doors, desperately pulling her children from the vehicle. Her youngest son lay motionless, his eyes closed, triggering a surge of fear and a frantic call for help.
First responders battled through the crowds to reach the family, discovering the infant in respiratory distress. He was transported to the hospital in serious, but stable, condition.
Destiny Jackson, her husband, and three of their children also received hospital treatment for exposure to the tear gas. The family endured the physical effects of the fumes and the emotional trauma of the experience.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that officers were responding to “rioters and agitators” and maintained that the Jackson family was not intentionally targeted. They denied any deliberate harm to the children.
Since sharing her story online, Jackson has been subjected to a barrage of threatening and hateful messages. Despite the negativity, she remains resolute, focused on the truth of what happened and her family’s well-being.
“I know what was going on,” Jackson stated, “I was just on my way home.” The incident serves as a stark reminder of the collateral damage that can occur during periods of civil unrest and heightened law enforcement activity.
