A federal immigration enforcement operation in south Minneapolis on Tuesday resulted in the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman, Renee Nicole Good, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. The incident sparked protests, criticism from local officials, and demands for an independent investigation.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE agents were conducting arrests when “rioters began blocking ICE officers and one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle.” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated that an ICE agent, “fearing for his life,” fired “defensive shots,” hitting Good, who later died.
Eyewitnesses described a different sequence of events. Aiden Perzana, a resident near the scene on Portland Avenue, said Good’s vehicle was perpendicular to the road with unmarked federal vehicles beside it. Agents reportedly approached her car and ordered her out before she reversed briefly and then accelerated forward. Video footage showed one agent attempting to open the driver’s door while another fired at least two shots into the car as it moved forward.
“She was trying to get away,” said Emily Heller, another neighbor who witnessed the incident.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Cmdr. Gregory Bovino was present at the scene with other armed federal agents. This came shortly after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s visit to Minneapolis amid signals of increased federal immigration enforcement in the area.
Perzana disputed DHS’ account: “They’re whitewashing it; that’s absolutely not what happened,” he said. “Somebody was trying to pull her out of her car. She was just trying to get away. There’s no way she was aiming for anybody. It’s just absurd.”
Lynette Reini-Grandell, who lives nearby, reported hearing three gunshots before seeing Good’s SUV lurch forward into a parked car.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that officers found Good with a gunshot wound to the head and attempted lifesaving measures before she was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, where she died.
Witness Venus de Mars confirmed law enforcement performed CPR: “And then the ambulances came and they loaded her onto a stretcher,” she said.
O’Hara stated that after securing evidence at the scene, Minneapolis police turned over the investigation to the FBI and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), which will conduct a joint inquiry into the use of deadly force.
The shooting led to heightened tensions as police formed lines around protesters gathered at the site; federal agents used chemical spray multiple times against activists. Law enforcement closed off several blocks as hundreds assembled throughout the afternoon. After police left in convoy vehicles, protesters followed along Portland Avenue demanding ICE leave Minneapolis.
President Donald Trump commented on Truth Social that Good “viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self defense.”
Local officials criticized both federal authorities and their characterization of events. Mayor Jacob Frey called the shooting “devastating” during a City Hall news conference and addressed federal agents directly: “ICE, get the (obscenity) out of Minneapolis.” He dismissed claims that self-defense justified lethal force: “This was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying, getting killed,” he said, calling such narratives “garbage … that is not true.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem referred to attacks against ICE officers as acts of “domestic terrorism” during remarks from Brownsville, Texas.
Governor Tim Walz announced preparations for potential deployment of Minnesota National Guard units if needed: “To Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, you’ve done enough,” he said at a press event. “There’s nothing more important than Minnesotans’ safety.”
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty requested a local investigation for transparency; this call was echoed by support from Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office via social media.
U.S. Rep Tom Emmer told Fox News he would await investigative findings but noted video showing an officer standing directly in front of Good’s vehicle as it accelerated.
Federal immigration agents are subject to constitutional standards governing use of force similar to those applied to local police under U.S law; deadly force is considered justified only if there is reasonable belief of imminent threat or serious bodily harm.
Mylan Masson—a retired Minneapolis police officer—explained that standard protocol typically involves removing any officer involved in such shootings from duty pending external review by another agency.
While ICE did not respond immediately regarding administrative actions taken after this incident involving its agent, BCA confirmed its participation alongside FBI investigators: its agents “are involved in the investigation regarding the use-of-force incident that occurred earlier today in Minneapolis involving an ICE officer.” The probe will be conducted jointly with federal authorities.
