The shooting occurred inside a vehicle in a neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis. Videos posted on social media show ICE officers approaching an SUV blocking the street during a protest against an ICE raid in the area and ordering the driver to open the door, the Associated Press reported.
As the vehicle began moving forward, an officer standing in front of it drew his weapon and fired several shots at close range. The SUV then struck two parked cars and came to a stop. The victim, Renee Nicole Macklin Good, 37, died of gunshot wounds to the head.
Federal response
The ICE officer involved has not been publicly identified. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the officer followed his training and acted in self-defense. She said he was struck by the vehicle and later treated at a hospital.
According to Noem, officers were attempting to leave the area after completing an operation when a group of protesters arrived. She said the woman blocked the officers with her vehicle, ignored commands and attempted to strike an officer with the car.
Local officials push back
However, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said he saw no evidence that the driver intended to harm officers. Mayor Jacob Frey also disputed the federal account, describing the shooting as avoidable. He criticized the heavy federal law enforcement presence in the city and accused federal authorities of escalating tensions during ICE operations.
