JD Vance Says Minneapolis Woman Killed by ICE ‘Wasn’t Innocent’
A fatal shooting by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in south Minneapolis is drawing national attention after Vice President JD Vance forcefully defended the agent and accused the media of misleading the public.
The incident occurred January 7 in the Seward neighborhood, where Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three, was shot and killed during a federal immigration enforcement operation. Federal officials say Good accelerated her vehicle toward an ICE agent, prompting him to fire in self-defense.
Local officials and several media outlets dispute that account. Video footage reviewed by multiple organizations appears to show Good’s vehicle turning away or not directly threatening the agent at the moment shots were fired, according to reporting based on frame-by-frame analysis. Eyewitnesses have also questioned the claim that the agent was about to be struck.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has opened an investigation, though state officials say access to evidence is limited because the FBI is overseeing parts of the inquiry. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has described ICE’s conduct during the operation as “reckless” and called for full transparency.
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At a White House briefing on Wednesday, Vice President Vance dismissed descriptions of Good as an “innocent woman out for a drive,” arguing that she was attempting to interfere with a lawful enforcement action. Vance said the agent involved had previously suffered serious injuries in another incident and accused media outlets of omitting facts that, in his view, explain the officer’s response.
Vance also criticized coverage of the shooting as “an absolute disgrace,” warning that what he called inaccurate reporting puts federal officers at risk. He suggested the administration would examine whether outside groups are funding efforts to obstruct ICE operations.
The remarks triggered a surge of online reaction, with critics accusing Vance of misrepresenting the evidence and supporters praising him for defending law enforcement. Protests continued in Minneapolis on Wednesday as community members demanded accountability and the release of all video and investigative materials.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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