Deona Marie Knajdek killed when driver plowed into crowd of Minneapolis protesters while she used car as blockade

A WOMAN who was killed when a driver plowed through a Minneapolis protest while using her car as a blockade has been identified.

The victim was identified as 32-year-old mother-of-two Deona Knajdek by her family.

Her brother, Garrett, told the Star Tribune that his sister was "using her car as a street blockade" when another vehicle "struck her vehicle and her vehicle struck her."

Knajdek was attending a protest against the shooting death of Winston Smith when she was allegedly killed.

"She constantly sacrificing herself for everyone around her," he said, "no matter the cost, obviously."

Cops said the suspect was arrested and three people were hurt following the incident in Minneapolis just before midnight.

They were protesting near a garage where Smith was shot dead earlier this month.

Witnesses on social media said that “someone was hit and wasn’t moving”on Lake Street/Girard as cops arrived on the scene with riot gear.

Minneapolis police confirmed three people were injured while one person died.

Video footage shows the suspect being held in a chokehold as he is arrested.

The person filming is heard saying: "This n**** just came through 100 miles an hour, smashed this car and he just f***ing killed her."

A car was badly damaged and a woman could be seen receiving treatment.

The cameraman adds: "You're going down boy, you're going down, it's over. You b****."

Police said the suspect is in custody but the motive remains unknown.

Cops said the Medical Examiner will release the identity of the victim, along with the nature and cause of death in the coming days.

It comes just days after Minneapolis was engulfed in flames after cops shot dead Winston Boogie Smith Jr. 

Protesters took to the streets of Minneapolis and 27 were arrested by police. 

The 32-year-old was wanted on an arrest warrant for possession of a firearm by a felon.

US Marshals moved in on him outside a parking garage as he was sat in a stationary car on a parking ramp off Lake Street between Fremont and Hennepin avenues, WCCO reported.

Cops said Smith refused to surrender and "produced a handgun resulting in task force members firing upon the subject."

Officers attempted life-saving measures but Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hennepin County deputies were also involved, although it is unclear in what capacity. It is currently unknown who fired the shot that killed Smith.

Officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, DailyMail reported.

The Minneapolis Police Department said they were not involved in the incident.

Family and friends described Smith as a father-of-three who was often harassed by police. 

Minneapolis has been on edge since the death of George Floyd just over a year ago, and the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright by an officer in April.

The city has been compared to a war zone with gun violence spiraling out of control.

Several children have been killed in recent weeks.

Trinity Ottoson-Smith, nine, was caught in the crossfire of gun-toting thugs when she was playing in the backyard of her Minneapolis neighborhood on May 15.

And, six-year-old Aniya Allen was shot in the head on May 17 as she ate McDonald’s in her mom’s car. 

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