Minnesota officials say the FBI has blocked their access to an investigation into the fatal shooting of a woman by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.
People have taken to the streets of Minneapolis to protest the killing of 37-year-old Renee Good, who died on Wednesday after being shot in her car.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has accused the Trump administration of blocking state officials from involvement in the case, while the US vice-president maintains that the investigation is a federal issue.
Officials have provided differing accounts of the incident, with the Trump administration claiming the ICE agent was acting in self-defense, while local sources assert that the woman posed no danger.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the ICE agent shot Good multiple times because she was allegedly attempting to run over the officer in her vehicle.
The FBI has stated it will conduct an independent investigation into the incident. However, Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has reported that despite an initial agreement for coordination in the investigation, the FBI ultimately denied state officials access to crucial evidence and materials.
Due to this lack of access, BCA Superintendent Drew Evans announced that the agency has reluctantly withdrawn from the investigation.
Governor Walz expressed concern that the lack of state involvement could hinder the likelihood of an unbiased investigation, stating, It feels now that Minnesota has been taken out of the investigation. It feels very, very difficult that we will get a fair outcome.
Vice President JD Vance argued against local involvement in prosecuting the case, saying it was a matter for federal jurisdiction. Eyewitness videos showed ICE agents confronting Good's vehicle before gunfire erupted as she attempted to drive away.
After the incident, the community organized vigils and protests, with hundreds attending to pay tribute to Good and express their anger towards ICE. Residents describe Good as a compassionate individual known for her poetry and music. Her mother spoke of her daughter's nurturing nature, concerned that Good felt fear during the confrontation with law enforcement.
Criminology experts suggest that the exclusion of state authorities from the investigation could erode public confidence and may allow political motivations to influence the case outcome. Despite this, state officials may still pursue charges against the federal officer involved later on.
