Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has launched a fierce attack on federal authorities, accusing them of "hiding the facts" surrounding the fatal shooting of a US citizen by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, has ignited protests and a major political standoff.
Mayor Demands State Role in Federal Probe
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, 9 January, Mayor Frey sharply criticised the Trump administration's response to the death of Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three. Good was shot in her car near the intersection of East 34th Street and Portland Avenue during a federal immigration enforcement operation.
Frey's outrage centres on the FBI's decision to seize full control of the investigation, excluding officials from Minnesota's own Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. "This is not a time to hide from the facts," Frey stated. "If you've got nothing to hide from, then don't hide from it. Our ask is to include the bureau of criminal apprehension in this process, because we in Minneapolis want a fair investigation."
The mayor condemned the swift characterisation of Good by Washington figures, including Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who labelled her a "domestic terrorist" without providing evidence. "They're calling the victim a domestic terrorist... We know that they've already determined much of the investigation," Frey said.
Community Mourning and Nationwide Protests
The shooting has triggered profound grief and anger in Minneapolis, a city still scarred by the police murder of George Floyd in 2020. On Thursday night, a large, peaceful vigil was held in petrifying cold at the scene, where a growing memorial of flowers, rainbow flags, and a wooden cross honours Good, who was married to a woman.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz declared a "day of unity" on Friday, calling for a moment of silence. Walz also prepared the state's National Guard, stating, "Minnesotans have met this moment. Thousands of people have peacefully made their voices heard."
Solidarity demonstrations took place in several other US cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Portland, Oregon.
Legal and Political Fallout Intensifies
The political fallout escalated as the New York Times reported an additional 100 federal agents were being sent to Minneapolis. Meanwhile, the legal battle over jurisdiction and accountability deepened.
Vice President Vance asserted the ICE agent, named as Jonathan Ross, a ten-year veteran, had "absolute immunity" from prosecution. Mayor Frey blasted this claim: "That's not true in any law school in America... if you break the law, if you do things that are outside the area of what your job responsibilities require."
Frey stood by his earlier description of the killing as a "reckless abuse of power" and his demand for ICE to "get the fuck out" of Minneapolis. "I'm going with the killing of somebody," he retorted when asked about his inflammatory language.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison conceded that bringing state charges without federal cooperation would be difficult. Prominent Republican and former federal prosecutor Tom Heffelfinger called the FBI takeover "disgusting," arguing it "guarantees there cannot be a fair and complete investigation."
Governor Walz echoed the sentiment, stating, "Now that Minnesota has been taken out of the investigation, it feels very, very difficult that we will get a fair outcome." The administration's narrative that Good tried to run down the officer has been challenged by video evidence, which appears to show her SUV wheels turning away from Agent Ross as she drove forward.
