American Citizen Shot and Killed by ICE Agent in Minneapolis

A woman died in Minneapolis on Wednesday after being shot by an ICE officer. Conflicting reports from the scene offer different narratives on what exactly transpired as immigration officers continue to patrol the streets of the Twin Cities. Here is the latest on what is becoming a highly contentious situation.

Woman Shot and Killed by ICE Agents in Minneapolis

In response to the deadly shooting of a 37-year-old woman, the official statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that the "violent rioters weaponized" a vehicle and tried to run over the ICE agents. The statement said that the officer was fearing for his life and the safety of the public when he "fired defensive shots."  

This statement is in direct contrast to comments from the Minneapolis Police Department and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Local officials allege that the victim was in a vehicle attempting to block the road when the incident unfolded. This side of the story details that the victim simply tried to drive away when she was approached by the ICE agents.

Video from the scene shows officers approaching the vehicle, telling the driver to exit the car. As the officer tries to pull the door handle, the female driver puts the vehicle in reverse in an apparent effort to exit the scene. It is just a few seconds later that an officer at the front of the car draws a gun and fires it several times. The vehicle quickly drives away and crashes on the side of the road.  Additional video footage shows neighbors yelling at officers in the street.

The residential area at 34th Street and Portland is currently being treated as a crime scene. Agents on the premises include Minneapolis Police, U.S. Marshals, and U.S. Border Patrol. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem arrived in Minneapolis late in the afternoon on Wednesday.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said that the victim was treated at the scene with a gunshot wound to the head. She was pronounced dead after being transferred to Hennepin County Medical Center. The shooting victim was identified as Renee Nicole Good, according to Democratic Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith.

Minneapolis Mayor Tells ICE to Get Out of the City

Mayor Frey is assertively pushing back against the presence of ICE agents in the Twin Cities. Frey said that the agency wants an excuse to show force that will "create more chaos and more despair," calling on residents to "rise to this occasion." The mayor did not mince words when he used expletives to tell ICE to get out of the city.

During the press conference, Frey said that he was requesting an investigation into the shooting. The mayor said that his office will do everything that it can to get justice for the victim.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz also addressed the situation later in the afternoon, sending condolences to the victim's family. Walz reiterated that he had been warning the Trump administration that the ICE operation in Minnesota was a threat to public safety. The governor said that while he was angry, he wanted citizens to protest peacefully and resist being provoked by the federal government. Walz echoed Frey's calls for justice, vowing that his administration will continue to "seek accountability and justice."  

On the other side of the political aisle, U.S. President Donald Trump corroborated the opinion of DHS and Noem. The president blamed what he called the "radical left" for targeting ICE agents, saying that the victim was driving disorderly and "violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE officer." Trump also posted on Truth Social that the officer appeared to have shot the woman in self-defense.

What Happens Next?

Gov. Walz is putting the state's National Guard on alert in the event that tensions escalate in the city in the evening and overnight hours. Protesters began gathering at the site of the shooting as the day progressed. Wednesday's shooting happened just a few blocks from where George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020.

ICE agents are not required by law to wear body-worn cameras while working in Minneapolis. Some experts believe that this could put a wrench into the investigation. It is not known if the officer who shot the driver was wearing a camera.

While Democrats are calling for a full investigation, law enforcement experts have been quick to point out that the U.S. Department of Justice under the Trump administration has been hesitant to prosecute immigration agents for the use of excessive force. The administration's policy states that immigration agents are allowed to use deadly force if they believe an individual poses an imminent threat of death. The administration also argued that federal agents are exempt from prosecution by state and local officials.

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