Federal officials have confirmed that a Latin Kings gang member was arrested on Thursday after allegedly stealing a weapon and body armor from a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) vehicle and vandalizing the vehicle in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday.
In a Friday press release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota announced, “A prior convicted felon was charged in a criminal complaint today with being a felon in possession of a firearm and theft of government property after breaking into an FBI vehicle and stealing a rifle.”
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the suspect, identified as 33-year-old Raul Gutierrez, is a member of the Latin Kings gang.
“As of this evening – one individual who allegedly stole federal government property out of an FBI vehicle in Minneapolis last night has been arrested,” Patel stated in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “The suspect is a member of the Latin Kings gang with a known violent criminal history.”
“FBI personnel are continuing to pursue other subjects involved,” Patel added. “There will be more arrests. Again: any individual who attacks law enforcement or vandalizes federal property paid for by hardworking taxpayers will be found and arrested.”
Patel also shared pictures on social media of the vehicle that was vandalized by Gutierrez.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota cited a criminal complaint that explained how FBI and Department of Homeland Security officials were “forced to abandon their vehicles and property” on Wednesday evening in Minneapolis due to “civil unrest” following the “use of force” as part of a federal operation in the city. Friday’s press release noted that protesters “forced entry in an unmarked FBI vehicle” and stole government property from the vehicle, including a Colt M16A1 rifle and a HUXWRX suppressor.
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As part of an investigation, federal officials obtained video footage showing Gutierrez removing the Colt M16A1 and HUXWRX suppressor from the FBI vehicle. The Latin Kings gang member was later arrested in a joint operation involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Justice Department.
In a Thursday evening statement on social media, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that the Latin Kings gang member is believed to have stolen FBI “body armor and weaponry” on Wednesday and had committed a “long list of prior violent crimes.”
“This criminal is a perfect example of what our brave federal law enforcement agents are up against every day as Minnesota leadership ENCOURAGES lawbreaking,” Bondi said. “Thank you to our agents for their outstanding police work.”
