Executive Summary
- The FBI has taken sole control of the investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE official.
- The Minnesota BCA withdrew from the case after being denied access to evidence and interviews.
- BCA Superintendent Drew Evans cited a reversal by the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding a joint investigation.
- Federal officials claim the agent acted in self-defense, a claim disputed by local leaders.
MINNEAPOLIS – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has assumed sole jurisdiction over the investigation into the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official, prompting the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to withdraw from the case due to restricted access to evidence.
According to a statement released by BCA Superintendent Drew Evans, the state agency was notified of the incident on January 7. Following initial consultations with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the FBI, the parties agreed that the BCA Force Investigations Unit would conduct a joint investigation alongside federal agents. The BCA reportedly responded to the scene to coordinate investigative work shortly after the agreement was made.
Superintendent Evans stated that later that afternoon, federal officials “reversed course,” informing the BCA that the inquiry would be led exclusively by the FBI. Under this new directive, the state bureau was denied access to case materials, scene evidence, and investigative interviews deemed necessary to conduct a thorough and independent review.
In his official statement, Evans explained that the BCA “reluctantly withdrawn” from the investigation, citing an inability to meet the transparency standards demanded by Minnesota law without full cooperation and jurisdictional clarity. The BCA Force Investigations Unit was established by the state legislature in 2020 specifically to provide independent oversight in use-of-force incidents involving law enforcement.
Federal officials have stated that the ICE official acted in self-defense during the confrontation that resulted in Good’s death. Conversely, local leaders have disputed this claim, though specific evidentiary details regarding the moments leading up to the shooting remain part of the active federal investigation.
Jurisdictional Authority and Oversight
The withdrawal of the BCA highlights the procedural complexities that arise when federal agents are involved in lethal force incidents within state jurisdictions. While state-level bodies are often mandated to ensure local accountability and community trust through transparency, federal supremacy clauses generally grant the FBI primary authority over incidents involving federal personnel. This shift effectively removes the investigation from the purview of state oversight mechanisms enacted by local legislatures. As the case proceeds under federal authority, the investigative findings will be submitted to federal prosecutors. It is important to note that all individuals involved in the investigation are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
