A Minneapolis street became the scene of a brazen daylight robbery, targeting independent journalist Nick Sortor. While filming in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood on Sunday, a masked individual snatched Sortor’s $1,000 camera directly from his vehicle.
The incident unfolded with startling speed. Video footage reveals the thief forcefully ripping the camera from Sortor’s grasp as he sat behind the wheel. Reacting instantly, Sortor pursued the robber, grabbing onto the door handle of their fleeing vehicle.
The pursuit quickly turned dangerous. Sortor was dragged along the street, his hand becoming trapped in the car’s door handle as the vehicle accelerated. He was left shaken and without his essential equipment, the camera lost to the speeding getaway car.
The aftermath brought a further wave of hostility. A man confronted Sortor, aggressively shouting accusations and demanding he leave the area. His words were laced with anger and a clear intent to intimidate.
Surrounding Sortor and a colleague, Cam Higby, a group began filming them with their phones, unleashing a barrage of verbal abuse. The atmosphere quickly escalated into a hostile confrontation, leaving them isolated and targeted.
Sortor described the event as an attack by “Somali thugs,” expressing his frustration that no one intervened to offer assistance. He called for a strong response from authorities, urging a raid on the area.
The incident quickly drew the attention of the FBI, who responded publicly, stating they were actively investigating the situation. Their swift acknowledgment offered a glimmer of hope for resolution.
This robbery is the latest in a series of confrontations Sortor has faced while reporting in Minneapolis. Just last week, he was targeted by a rioting mob outside an ICE facility, enduring vandalism to his vehicle and threats to his life.
During that previous incident, Sortor was forced to drive through a crowd to escape the escalating danger, repeatedly warning protestors to move. He was subsequently detained by police following reports from the rioters alleging he and Higby were armed.
The pattern of attacks raises serious concerns about the safety of journalists covering events in the city and the increasingly volatile environment they face while attempting to report the news.
