US vice president defends ICE after fatal Minneapolis shooting

“You can accept that this woman’s death is a tragedy while acknowledging it’s a tragedy of her own making,” Vance wrote on the US social media company X. “Don't illegally interfere in federal law enforcement operations and try to run over our officers with your car. It's really that simple.”

Minnesota Senator Tina Smith confirmed that the woman killed by ICE was 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a US citizen and a mother.

Smith called for a full investigation into the shooting, saying ICE’s presence had heightened fear in the community.

“ICE must end this operation now and leave Minnesota,” she wrote on Instagram. “Their presence is a clear and present threat that is terrorizing our community.”

Vance, however, said the incident would only strengthen the administration’s resolve to continue ICE operations.

“I want every ICE officer to know that their president, vice president and the entire administration stands behind them,” he said in a separate post. “To the radicals assaulting them, doxxing them and threatening them: congratulations, we’re going to work even harder to enforce the law.”

US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Good had been “stalking and impeding” officers throughout the day and attempted to “weaponize her vehicle” by trying to run over an agent.

However, witnesses, video footage and statements from local officials, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, have cast doubt on that account, suggesting Good was attempting to flee ICE agents rather than intentionally harm them.

“Seen the video. Don’t believe this propaganda machine,” Walz wrote on social media.

Schools closed amid rising tensions

The shooting sparked protests locally and in other US cities.

Walz said he was prepared to deploy the National Guard if necessary, while Frey warned the situation was testing “the endurance of our republic,” according to CNN.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the shooting further strained an already tense environment, prompting increased police deployment and a heightened state of readiness.

Citing safety concerns, Minneapolis Public Schools announced the closure of schools on Thursday and Friday, with classes scheduled to resume Monday, according to a notice posted on the district’s website.

The site of Wednesday’s shooting is about one mile from where Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd in 2020, an incident that sparked massive, global protests against racism and police violence.