Police and other authorities cordoned off the scene in Minneapolis where an immigration officer shot and killed a woman. Getty Images
A deadly shooting involving a U.S. immigration officer has shaken Minneapolis and triggered sharp disagreement between federal officials and local leaders. A 37-year-old woman, Renee Nicole Good, died after an officer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement shot her during an operation in a residential neighbourhood on Wednesday morning.
Federal authorities said the shooting occurred in self-defence. City leaders strongly rejected that claim and accused the officer of using force without cause. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has now launched an investigation into the incident.
Conflicting accounts emerge
The Department of Homeland Security said Good acted as a “violent rioter” who tried to run over immigration officers with her vehicle. Officials claimed she used her SUV as a weapon and injured the officer, who later received hospital treatment.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey offered a very different account. “This was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying,” he said during a news conference. He also told federal agents to leave the city, saying their presence created fear rather than safety.
Videos raise more questions
Videos shared online appear to show the moments leading up to the shooting. The footage shows a maroon SUV blocking a residential street as a group of people stand nearby, some appearing to protest. Immigration officers approach the vehicle and order the driver to exit. One officer pulls at the driver’s door while another stands near the front.
As the vehicle begins to move, gunshots ring out. The SUV then crashes into a parked car. The videos do not clearly show whether the officer stood directly in the vehicle’s path or whether the car struck him.
Strong political reaction
U.S. President Donald Trump said the officer had been “viciously” run over and blamed left-wing groups for targeting law enforcement. He said the officer survived and continued recovering.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz rejected that version of events. “Don't believe this propaganda machine,” he wrote, adding that the state would ensure a full and fair investigation. Several senior Democrats also criticized the federal account and called for accountability.
Community anger grows
The Minneapolis City Council said Good had been helping neighbours when the shooting occurred. Residents held vigils near the scene, and protests spread across the city. Demonstrations also took place in other major U.S. cities.
The shooting happened about one mile from the site where George Floyd died in 2020, a case that sparked global protests. Minneapolis Public Schools cancelled classes for the rest of the week due to safety concerns after reports of arrests near a high school.
Heavy federal presence questioned
Federal officials recently sent thousands of immigration agents to Minneapolis as part of a broader crackdown tied to alleged welfare fraud. Mayor Frey said the operation caused chaos and fear, not safety.
Officials said immigration operations will continue as the investigation moves forward.
