A 37-year-old woman was shot and killed in south Minneapolis on January 7 during a federal immigration enforcement operation, igniting protests, political confrontation and multiple investigations into the use of lethal force by US immigration agents.
The shooting took place in a residential area less than a mile from George Floyd Square, an area still symbolically and politically charged following the 2020 killing that triggered nationwide protests over policing in the United States. Federal officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement were operating in the area as part of a large-scale deployment linked to the Trump administration’s intensified immigration crackdown.
Conflicting accounts of what happened
Federal authorities said the woman attempted to strike officers with her vehicle, describing the car as a “weaponised vehicle” and framing the shooting as an act of self-defence. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly defended the agent involved, stating that the officer acted according to training to protect himself and colleagues.
That version was immediately rejected by Minnesota and Minneapolis officials. Governor Tim Walz accused federal agencies of spreading propaganda and warned that the operation had been “predictably dangerous”. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey went further, calling the federal account false and accusing ICE of recklessly escalating a situation that ended in a civilian’s death.
President Donald Trump echoed the federal position in social media posts, claiming the agent narrowly escaped being run over and insisting the shooting was justified.
What the video footage shows
Multiple videos circulating on social media and verified by US media outlets show two federal agents approaching a maroon Honda Pilot stopped on the roadway. An agent attempts to open the driver’s door while ordering the woman to exit the vehicle.
As the car reverses slightly and then begins to move forward and turn, a third agent steps into the street and fires multiple shots. The vehicle continues forward before crashing into parked cars. Video footage shows the agent walking unaided after the shooting, with no visible injuries.
State and local officials say the footage contradicts claims that the officer was struck or dragged by the vehicle.
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 8, 2026
A US immigration agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman in her car in Minneapolis amid an immigration enforcement surge, according to officials, the latest violent incident during Trump's nationwide crackdown on migrants https://t.co/6cypwrTl5a pic.twitter.com/sB27HuPzoT
Who was Renee Nicole Good
The woman killed was identified as Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old US citizen, mother and Minneapolis resident. According to police, she was not the target of any law enforcement investigation.
Family members and community representatives described Good as a kind and active member of her neighbourhood who leaves behind a six-year-old child. Local lawmakers stressed that her immigration status was not in question, further complicating the justification offered for the operation that led to her death.
Flowers lay on the ground at a rally in New York City, as people gathered following the fatal shooting of a woman by a US immigration agent in Minnesota https://t.co/qvOFON2ibE pic.twitter.com/9Wc2DAsHNL
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 8, 2026
Political reaction at state and federal level
The shooting triggered an unusually sharp clash between federal and state authorities. Walz warned residents not to “take the bait”, urging peaceful protest while activating emergency preparedness measures in case unrest escalated.
Frey demanded the immediate withdrawal of ICE agents from Minneapolis, saying their presence was creating instability rather than public safety. Several Democratic lawmakers, including members of Congress, condemned the operation and called for accountability from the Department of Homeland Security.
At federal level, officials doubled down on the legality of the operation, framing criticism as hostility toward law enforcement and warning against obstructing immigration enforcement.
Community response and protests
Thousands gathered at vigils near the shooting site, lighting candles and chanting slogans against ICE operations. Demonstrations spread beyond Minnesota, with smaller protests reported outside federal buildings in other US cities.
Minneapolis Public Schools cancelled classes for two days citing safety concerns, while local police maintained a limited presence near protest sites to avoid further escalation.
Investigations and legal questions
The shooting is under investigation by the FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Authorities have not said whether state or federal prosecutors will ultimately have jurisdiction, a question that often complicates cases involving federal officers.
Legal experts note that US Justice Department guidelines generally discourage officers from firing at moving vehicles unless no alternative exists, a standard that will likely be central to the review of the agent’s actions.
The killing of Renee Nicole Good is the latest in a series of shootings involving federal immigration officers during vehicle encounters, incidents that have increasingly drawn scrutiny from civil rights groups and local governments.
Beyond Minneapolis, the case has become a focal point in the broader US debate over immigration enforcement, federal authority in Democratic-led cities, and the boundaries of lawful use of force. As investigations continue, the incident is expected to shape both legal challenges and political narratives well beyond Minnesota.
Sources: Reuters, MSNBC, AP News