A former high-ranking FBI official has publicly dissected alleged cell phone footage from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent involved in a fatal shooting in Minneapolis, sharply criticizing the agent's actions and the political commentary that followed.
Former FBI Agent Questions Use of Deadly Force
On Friday, Michael Feinberg, a former assistant special agent in charge at the FBI, reacted to video that appears to show the moments leading up to agent Jonathan Ross fatally shooting Renee Good. The footage, first shared by right-wing outlet Alpha News, seems to be filmed from the shooter's perspective.
Feinberg, speaking to MSNBC's Chris Jansing, stated he saw officers "overreacting" to civilians who were "sarcastic and lightly combative." He was unequivocal in his assessment: "I don’t see a situation that would require the application of deadly force."
Analysis of the Controversial Video
The clip shows Renee Good inside her vehicle telling Ross she is "not mad" at him. Her wife, Becca Good, is outside the car and appears to be filming the agent, telling him, "You want to come at us? I say go get yourself some lunch, big boy."
Moments later, Good drives away and the camera angle shifts as the agent fires. The video later captures someone saying, "Fucking bitch," a remark Feinberg labeled the "height of unprofessionalism" and attributed to an agent at the scene.
Feinberg emphasized that dealing with verbal challenges and being recorded is part of a law enforcement officer's duty. "Somebody filming you on a cell phone and giving you sass is not a threat to your life. It’s not even a threat to your safety. It’s a minor annoyance at best," he argued.
Political Reactions and Professional Scrutiny
The video has entered the political arena, with Vice President JD Vance claiming the agent's "life was endangered and he fired in self-defense," aligning with the Department of Homeland Security's initial statement. Feinberg questioned why both Vance and former President Donald Trump commented on the shooting before a full investigation.
He also scrutinized the agent's decision to film the interaction with his personal phone, noting that if Ross truly feared for his life, he would want his hands free, not holding a device. "This is like, I’m sorry, but that excuse is asinine," Feinberg concluded, pointing out the agent had "a lot of equipment to protect himself."
The former FBI official stressed that emotional maturity and the ability to keep your cool are fundamental requirements for officers, qualities he implied were lacking in this incident.
