The fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis has ignited national controversy and drawn strong responses from local officials, federal authorities, and Catholic leaders urging prayer, calm, and respect for human dignity.
The incident occurred Wednesday morning in a residential area of south Minneapolis during a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities. According to reporting from AP News, 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot in the head after ICE officers confronted her vehicle, which was stopped in the roadway. The shooting was captured on video by bystanders and quickly spread on social media, drawing crowds of protesters and mourners to the scene.
An Urgent Message from Sister Sara – Please Watch
Federal officials defended the officer’s actions. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the shooting as self-defense, stating at a press conference that the officer “acted quickly and defensively” after the woman allegedly attempted to harm agents with her vehicle, according to AP News. President Donald Trump echoed that claim in a social media post, accusing the woman of being an agitator and defending ICE operations.
Local officials strongly rejected that narrative.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the video evidence contradicts claims of self-defense. “Having seen the video myself, I wanna tell everybody directly, that is bullshit,” Frey said during a press conference, according to AP News. He characterized the federal operation as reckless and accused immigration agents of “ripping families apart” and “sowing chaos” in the city.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also criticized the circumstances of the shooting, calling it “predictable” and “avoidable,” while urging protesters to remain peaceful, according to AP News.
Protests and vigils continued into the evening, with hundreds gathering near the scene to mourn Good’s death. Minneapolis Public Schools canceled classes and activities for two days, citing safety concerns following the incident, AP News reported.
Questions surrounding accountability intensified after state investigators announced they were blocked from participating in the investigation. According to The Mirror, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension withdrew from the probe after the FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office restricted state access to evidence, witnesses, and investigative materials.
BCA Superintendent Drew Evans said the agency could not continue without full cooperation. “Without complete access to the evidence, witnesses and information collected, we cannot meet the investigative standards that Minnesota law and the public demands,” Evans said in a statement cited by The Mirror.
As political tensions escalated, Catholic leaders in Minnesota called for prayer, restraint, and renewed focus on the sanctity of human life.
Saint Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop Bernard Hebda addressed the shooting in a Jan. 7 statement, according to Catholic News Agency. “We continue to be at a time in this country when we need to lower the temperature of rhetoric, stop fear-filled speculation, and start seeing all people as created in the image and likeness of God,” the archbishop said.
Hebda emphasized that this principle applies to everyone involved in the crisis. “That is as true for our immigrant sisters and brothers as it is for our elected officials and those who are responsible for enforcing our laws,” he said, according to Catholic News Agency.
The archbishop also echoed longstanding calls from the U.S. bishops for comprehensive immigration reform. “The longer we refuse to grapple with this issue in the political arena, the more divisive and violent it becomes,” Hebda warned.
Catholic News Agency noted that Hebda referenced a November 2025 statement from the U.S. bishops opposing indiscriminate mass deportations and condemning dehumanizing rhetoric directed at both immigrants and law enforcement.
State and local leaders continued to demand answers as investigations proceed. Representative Ilhan Omar called the shooting “state violence,” while Mayor Frey demanded federal immigration agents leave the city immediately, according to AP News.
As the community mourns and tensions remain high, Catholic leaders are urging the faithful to respond not with anger or speculation, but with prayer for the deceased, her family, law enforcement officers, and national leaders.
“It is only by working together — with God’s help — that we will have peace in our communities, state, and world,” Hebda said, according to Catholic News Agency.
Your support brings the truth to the world.
Catholic Online News exists because of donors like you. We are 100% funded by people who believe the world deserves real, uncensored news rooted in faith and truth — not corporate agendas. Your gift ensures millions can continue to access the news they can trust — stories that defend life, faith, family, and freedom.
When truth is silenced, your support speaks louder.
