Federal immigration officers in Minneapolis have been accused of obstructing emergency medical crews from reaching a woman they had just fatally shot, according to eyewitness testimony.
Eyewitnesses Describe Scene of Delayed Medical Aid
The incident occurred on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, at the intersection of 34th Street and Portland Avenue in Minneapolis. An agent from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shot Renee Nicole Good at close range. Witness Emily Heller, who recorded the event, stated that federal officers blocked the road with their vehicles, preventing both bystanders and later, professional medics, from accessing Good promptly.
Heller told NBC News that agents prevented people from approaching Good's vehicle. Her video captured a man identifying himself as a physician asking to check for a pulse, but he was turned away. Bystanders were informed, "We have our own medics." However, no evidence has surfaced to indicate that ICE or any Homeland Security-assigned medical support was present on the scene.
The first medical responders were from Hennepin EMS, linked to the Hennepin County Medical Center, which is located just an eight-minute drive north of the shooting location.
Policy Breach and Fatal Delay
Department of Homeland Security policy establishes a clear duty for its law enforcement officers to render medical aid. The policy states that following a use of force, officers "shall obtain appropriate medical assistance for any subject who has visible or apparent injuries" and may provide first aid if trained. Video from the scene does not show federal agents administering aid to Good.
Emily Heller described a critical delay. She estimated it took 15 minutes for an ambulance to arrive due to blocked streets. "When they did arrive, they couldn't get through with the ambulance," Heller explained. "So they just came on foot and then examined her for a few minutes, maybe five minutes, and then they carried her out by her limbs like a sack of potatoes. There was no stretcher."
Heller added that from her observation, the close-range shots to the head meant survival was unlikely, but the impeded response was a significant concern. A spokesperson for Hennepin County Medical Center said the response is under investigation and could not confirm Heller's specific account.
Investigation and Official Silence
The Department of Homeland Security has not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the alleged actions of its officers and the apparent contradiction with its own use-of-force medical aid policy. The incident raises serious questions about protocol and accountability during federal law enforcement operations in urban communities.
The fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good and the subsequent allegations of obstructed emergency care are now central to an ongoing investigation, as authorities piece together the events of that January day in Minneapolis.
