Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey urged the FBI to allow Minnesota investigators, including the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, to join the federal probe into the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer. Critics say early statements from federal-aligned figures—such as Governor Kristi Noem's "domestic terrorism" label—have prejudged the case. Cellphone footage and independent video analyses have raised questions about Good's intent, prompting calls for greater transparency and state involvement to ensure a fair, impartial investigation.
Minneapolis Mayor Demands State Role in Renee Good Shooting Investigation as Questions Mount
Mayor Jacob Frey, center, holds a news conference on Saturday in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Photograph: Jen Golbeck/AP
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Sunday urged the FBI to allow Minnesota investigators to participate in the federal probe into the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. Frey said state participation—specifically by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)—is needed to ensure transparency and public confidence in the investigation.
Frey and other local leaders have criticized senior federal officials for quickly assigning blame and framing the incident before key evidence was reviewed. Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota, described Good's actions as "domestic terrorism" early in the public response, a characterization that drew sharp rebuttals from Minnesota officials. Noem has also said state prosecutors lack jurisdiction in the matter.
Several federal figures weighed in publicly. Senator J.D. Vance said he believed the ICE officer was legally protected and was "doing his job," while Tom Homan, who has served as a senior immigration official, repeated suggestions that the incident could meet some definitions of terrorism. Critics say those early statements and the decision to limit state involvement risk undermining the perceived impartiality of the inquiry.
Cellphone footage released by federal authorities shows Good calmly telling an ICE agent, "I'm not mad at you," seconds before she was shot; moments later someone who appears to be the officer who fired several shots is heard using profanity. Independent video analyses cited by local leaders concluded Good was turning away from the officer rather than trying to run him over — a finding that contradicts some of the initial federal claims.
“We need to be doing this transparently,” Frey said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “When you’ve got a federal administration that is so quick to jump on a narrative as opposed to the truth, I think we all need to be speaking out.”
U.S. Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota echoed concerns about fairness, saying on ABC’s This Week that blocking state investigators "looks like a strategy of putting out their version of events," and that releasing selective footage risks shaping public opinion before a full review.
Frey previously drew national attention for a profanity-laced rebuke of ICE at a press conference following the shooting—saying, "To ICE, get the fuck out of Minneapolis." He later acknowledged offending some listeners but said the greater inflammatory act was the shooting itself.
Calls for the FBI to include the Minnesota BCA emphasize the demand for independent, local scrutiny alongside the federal review. Local officials and many community members say that joint participation and a transparent process are essential to restore trust and reach credible conclusions.
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