The head of Minnesota's state investigations agency revealed Thursday that federal prosecutors have barred his team from participating in the probe into a fatal shooting by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis. The incident, which claimed the life of a 37-year-old mother of three, has ignited widespread protests and heightened tensions surrounding a massive federal immigration enforcement operation.
State Investigators Blocked from Probe
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Superintendent Drew Evans stated that after initial coordination following the Wednesday shooting of Renee Nicole Macklin Good, a joint investigation with the FBI was planned. The BCA's Force Investigations Unit responded to the scene and began work in good faith.
However, Evans said the FBI later informed the BCA that the U.S. attorney's office had changed the plan. The investigation would now be led solely by the FBI, and the BCA would be denied access to case materials, scene evidence, and investigative interviews.
"Without complete access to the evidence, witnesses and information collected, we cannot meet the investigative standards that Minnesota law and the public demands," Evans wrote. He added that the BCA was designed to ensure consistency and public confidence, goals now unattainable without full cooperation. As a result, the agency has reluctantly withdrawn from the investigation.
Shooting Details and Conflicting Narratives
The shooting occurred on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, in a residential neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis. Bystander videos show an ICE officer approaching an SUV stopped in the road. As the Honda Pilot begins to pull forward, a different ICE officer standing in front of the vehicle draws his weapon and fires at least two shots at close range.
The SUV then speeds into two parked cars before crashing. It is unclear from the videos if the vehicle made contact with the officer. In a subsequent recording, a woman identifying herself as Macklin Good's spouse is seen crying near the vehicle, stating they had recently arrived in Minnesota and had a child.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the incident an "act of domestic terrorism" against ICE officers, alleging the driver attempted to run them over. She stated the officer acted defensively to protect himself and others. President Donald Trump defended ICE's work on social media.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey vehemently disputed this account, calling Noem's version "garbage" and "bullshit." He criticized the federal deployment and demanded the agents leave the city.
Protests and Widespread Fallout
The Twin Cities have been on edge since the Department of Homeland Security launched its operation on Tuesday, deploying over 2,000 officers in what it calls its largest immigration enforcement action ever. Secretary Noem said more than 1,500 people have been arrested.
Following the shooting, dozens of protesters gathered outside a federal building serving as a base for the operation. Chanting "No More ICE" and "Justice Now," they were pushed back by Border Patrol officers using pepper spray and tear gas. Hundreds also attended a vigil for Macklin Good on Wednesday night.
Protests spread beyond Minneapolis, with demonstrations occurring or planned in New York City, Seattle, Detroit, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and Chicago, among other cities.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed outrage but urged peaceful protests, stating he was prepared to deploy the National Guard if necessary. "They want a show," Walz said. "We can't give it to them." Local schools canceled classes as a precaution.
This marks at least the fifth death linked to the Trump administration's series of major city immigration crackdowns. State and local officials continue to demand that federal immigration agents leave Minnesota, a call that Homeland Security has firmly rejected.
