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 as their vehicle accelerated away.
The desperate chase turned dangerous as Sortor was dragged along the street, his hand becoming trapped in the car’s door mechanism. He was left shaken and without his equipment after the vehicle finally broke free.
The aftermath brought a further wave of hostility. A man confronted Sortor, aggressively demanding to know if this was the outcome he desired, unleashing a torrent of verbal abuse. He was quickly joined by others who surrounded Sortor and a colleague, Cam Higby, filming and shouting accusations.
Sortor described the event as an attack by a group he characterized as “Somali thugs,” expressing his frustration that bystanders offered no assistance. He publicly called for intervention from the Department of Homeland Security.
This incident is the latest in a series of confrontations for Sortor 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 encounter, Sortor was forced to drive through the 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 FBI acknowledged the recent camera theft, stating they were immediately investigating the situation. The escalating pattern of incidents raises serious concerns about the safety of journalists covering events in the city.
