The shooting has sparked protests nationwide, with demonstrators questioning the federal government’s characterization of the incident.
SAN ANTONIO — Protests broke out across the country, including in downtown San Antonio, after a woman was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent during an operation in Minnesota.
The Department of Homeland Security identified the woman as 37-year-old Renee Good, a U.S. citizen. City leaders said Good was a legal observer of federal actions.
According to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, agents were leaving the scene of an operation in Minneapolis when Good used her vehicle to block them and later drove toward an agent. Authorities say the agent fired multiple shots, killing her.
Witnesses, however, said Good was attempting to alert neighbors about ICE’s presence in the area.
The shooting has sparked protests nationwide, with demonstrators questioning the federal government’s characterization of the incident. DHS has described the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism — a label protestors and Minneapolis’s mayor strongly dispute.
In San Antonio, demonstrators gathered Wednesday evening on the steps of City Hall, nearly 1,200 miles from where Good was killed, holding a vigil and calling for accountability and transparency from federal officials.
“Seeing the video — I lived in Minnesota for a couple of years — just seeing a woman in her car get shot three times, it’s really frustrating,” said protester Macie Massicott.
Noem defended the agent’s actions, saying the officer followed training and acted in self-defense.
“It’s very clear that this individual was harassing and impeding law enforcement operations,” Noem said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon. “Our officer followed his training, did exactly what he’s been taught to do in that situation, and took actions to defend himself and defend his fellow law enforcement officers.”
Many of those who attended Wednesday’s vigil said they have participated in multiple anti-ICE demonstrations over the past year.
“It was important for us to come out here today in front of City Hall,” said protester Jessica Solis. “We needed our leaders and our community to stand together because we know what’s happening is wrong.”
In a statement to KENS 5, San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said she is seeking more transparency from federal officials.
“I’m deeply saddened by the tragedy in Minneapolis today,” Jones said. “While ICE continues to have a presence in San Antonio, I continue to ask the Department of Homeland Security for more information on their activities and call for transparency so that we are prioritizing the safety of our community.”
UTSA political science professor Jon Taylor said the reaction in San Antonio reflects growing national anger toward ICE operations and enforcement tactics.
“There’s a lot of anger across the country,” Taylor said. “There’s animosity toward these raids taking place across the United States, and particularly the ramping up of these raids.”
Taylor said it’s important for elected leaders on both sides of the aisle to help de-escalate tensions as investigations move forward.
“Take a deep breath,” he said. “Understand there is a process that is in play here that has to be followed — that an investigation has to take place.”
Wednesday’s protest in San Antonio remained peaceful. San Antonio police were present nearby, but they kept their distance.
The deadly shooting in Minneapolis is being investigated by the FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.