Photo: Getty Images
The head of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said the agency was barred by the federal officials from participating in the investigation into an incident in which a woman was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans issued a statement obtained by the Associated Press on Thursday (January 8) claiming that the agency had consulted with the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, at which point “it was decided that the BCA Force Investigations Unit would conduct a joint investigation with the FBI” and that the “BCA responded promptly to the scene and began coordinating investigative work in good faith." The FBI then informed the BCA that the U.S. Attorney's Office had changed its plan and the investigation would now be led solely by the FBI, and the BCA would no longer have access to the case materials, scene evidence or investigative interviews necessary to complete a thorough and independent investigation."
The woman who was fatally shot was identified as Renee Nicole Good, according to the Star Tribune. Good, 37, who described herself as a mother, wife and poet, was identified by her mother, Donna Granger, hours after the incident on Wednesday (January 7).
“Renee was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known,” Granger told the Star Tribune. “She was extremely compassionate. She’s taken care of people all her life. She was loving, forgiving and affectionate. She was an amazing human being.”
“She was probably terrified,” Ganger added, referring to the circumstances of her daughter's death as “so stupid.”
Authorities have differed on the exact incident that led to the fatal shooting. The DHS claimed the shooting stemmed from an incident in which rioters blocked ICE officers and escalated when they "weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them—an act of domestic terrorism."
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz denied the Department of Homeland Security's claim, confirming that he's personally seen footage of the incident and an investigation remained active.
Walz had previously confirmed that an investigation into the incident was ongoing.
"My public safety team is working to gather information on an ICE related shooting this morning. We will share information as we learn more. In the meantime, I ask folks to remain calm," Walz said.
Witnesses told KARE 11 that the woman was attempting to flee from ICE agents at the time of the fatal shooting, contradicting the Department of Homeland Security's claim. A burgundy SUV was seen with a bullet hole through the driver's side windshield and had smashed into a light pole at the scene.
The Department of Homeland Security claimed that the situation was "evolving" and said it would "give the public more information as soon as it becomes available."