MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – On Thursday, anger and outrage erupted onto the streets of Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of a woman, Renee Good, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. This incident, which occurred on the heels of several protests, sparked further scrutiny of federal enforcement operations across the United States as another shooting involving federal officers in Portland, Oregon, left two individuals wounded.
Protesters gathered in Minneapolis, marching through freezing rain while chanting "ICE out now" and carrying signs that read "killer ICE off our streets." Their outrage was particularly directed at ICE, amidst concerns that their aggressive enforcement actions were leading to unnecessary violence. The demonstrations began outside a federal facility that has been identified as a hub for the administration’s immigration crackdown in the area.
The shooting in Portland occurred outside a hospital, where a man and woman were shot while inside a vehicle. Although their conditions were not immediately disclosed, the incident prompted the FBI and the Oregon Department of Justice to launch an investigation. Mayor Keith Wilson and the city council in Portland have urged ICE to halt its operations until a thorough investigation is completed.
The Department of Homeland Security defended the actions of the officers involved in the Portland shooting, stating that it occurred when a Venezuelan man, allegedly connected to gang activity, attempted to “weaponize” his vehicle against the officers. The validity of this claim remained uncertain, pending confirmation from witness videos.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and members of the Trump administration have characterized the shooting of Good as an act of self-defense, portraying her as a threat since she allegedly used her vehicle in a manner deemed aggressive towards the officer. Vice President JD Vance echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Good's circumstances were a product of "left-wing ideology."
However, state officials and local advocates contested this narrative. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey challenged the self-defense claim, stating that available video evidence undermines that argument. The shooting took place on the second day of what has been described as the largest immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis and St. Paul, involving over 2,000 officers and resulting in more than 1,500 arrests.
Protests reverberated throughout Minneapolis in the wake of Good's death, which has become emblematic of the conflicts surrounding immigration policy under the Trump administration. Activists have expressed horror at federal actions against their communities, with one protester articulating that “our government is waging war on our citizens.” Protesters constructed makeshift barricades and set up support stations, distributing coffee and water to fellow demonstrators as they expressed their outrage at the recent shooting.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, responsible for investigating officer-involved shootings, reported on Thursday that it would not be allowed to collaborate with the FBI or U.S. Justice Department on this case, raising concerns about the impartiality of the investigation. Governor Tim Walz has advocated for state involvement, arguing that the public will struggle to accept an investigation that does not include state oversight.
Reports indicate that several bystanders captured video footage of the shooting, showcasing the tense moments leading up to the fatal encounter. The video portrays an officer confronting a stopped SUV, and as the vehicle moves forward, another officer opens fire. The sequence of events leading to the shooting and any potential contact between the vehicle and the officer remain unclear.
The officer who fatally shot Good, identified through various records as Jonathan Ross, is an Iraq War veteran with a lengthy tenure in federal law enforcement. Noem refrained from disclosing his name; however, records indicate his involvement in a prior incident where he sustained injuries during a previous arrest. Despite the attempt to provide context for Ross's prior experiences, he has not publicly commented on the recent shooting.
