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FBI restricts Minnesota officials from ICE shooting investigation
Federal authorities have barred Minnesota state investigators from accessing evidence in the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, prompting protests and allegations of obstruction.
Conflicting accounts emerge over shooting incident
Good was shot dead in her vehicle on Wednesday after ICE agents approached her SUV in Minneapolis. Federal officials claim the agent acted in self-defense, alleging Good attempted to run over the officer. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated the agent fired multiple shots after the vehicle moved toward them.
However, Minnesota officials dispute this version, asserting Good posed no threat. Footage of the incident shows agents ordering Good out of her car before one pulls at the driver's side door handle. As the vehicle accelerates, an agent fires several shots. The SUV later crashes, leaving blood visible in the snow the following day.
State withdraws from probe amid federal interference
Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) announced its withdrawal from the investigation after the FBI initially agreed to a joint probe but later denied state access to evidence. BCA Superintendent Drew Evans called the decision "reluctant" but necessary due to the lack of cooperation.
Governor Tim Walz expressed concerns about the federal government's ability to conduct an impartial investigation, stating, "It feels very, very difficult that we will get a fair outcome." Vice President JD Vance countered that the case is a federal matter, citing precedent against local involvement in prosecuting federal officers.
Community mourns and protests Good's killing
Hundreds gathered at the crash site and outside a federal building in Minneapolis to protest Good's death. Vigils with candles and roses marked the location where she was shot, while demonstrators chanted slogans condemning ICE. Armed officers monitored the protests, which remained largely peaceful.
"They cannot get away with killing someone. There has to be consequences for actions,"
Gavin, protester
Susie Hawyard, a local minister, visited the scene to witness the aftermath firsthand. "I was horrified," she said. "I saw the car, I saw Renee's car, I saw Renee's blood."
Good remembered as compassionate community figure
Friends and family described Good as a poet, guitarist, and caring individual who recently relocated to Minneapolis. Her mother, Donna Ganger, told the Minnesota Star Tribune that Good was likely terrified during the confrontation. "She was extremely compassionate... loving, forgiving, and affectionate," Ganger said.
Nimco Ahmad, a Somali immigrant who grew up near the incident, echoed these sentiments: "Renee was everything that was good about our community."
Legal experts weigh in on jurisdictional dispute
Edward Maguire, a criminology professor at Arizona State University, suggested the federal government's exclusion of state authorities could erode public trust. "Jurisdictional claims in cases like this are often political efforts to control the investigation's outcome," he said.
Bryna Godar, an attorney with the State Democracy Research Initiative, noted that Minnesota could still pursue criminal charges against the federal officer at a later stage.
