Louisville's police chief calls fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis 'preventable'

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville's police chief said Thursday that the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis was "preventable" and an "absolute tragedy."

The killing of 37-year-old Renee Good on Wednesday set off a clash between federal and state officials over whether the shooting appeared justified.

According to the Associated Press, the woman was shot in her car in a residential neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis.

Cellphone video captured the shooting, which federal officials claimed was an act of self-defense but the city's mayor described as "reckless" and unnecessary. Video shows an ICE officer approaching Good's SUV stopped in the road as the vehicle begins to move forward. Another ICE officer standing in front of it draws his gun and fires at close range as he jumps out of the way.

There is no universal training standard for law enforcement when it comes to firing at a moving vehicle, the Associated Press reported. But most police departments and federal guidance bar shooting at a moving vehicle unless the driver poses an imminent threat of deadly force beyond the car itself.

Louisville Metro Police Department policy states officers will not shoot their guns at or from a moving vehicle except in response to potential or active gunfire, or if the vehicle is being used as a weapon against an officer.

During a news conference Thursday, Chief Paul Humphrey called the shooting an "absolute tragedy."

"There is a reason why we have policies that say 'Don't put yourself in a bad position.' That's why we have policies surrounding shooting at people inside of vehicles," Humphrey said. "It seems like it was something that, based on tactics, could've been easily preventable. It's an absolute tragedy what's going on up there and I really feel for that community and I feel for that police department."

Humphrey said Louisville is fortunate to not see that kind of violence in the city.

In July, Mayor Craig Greenberg agreed to end Louisville's sanctuary city policies after pressure from President Donald Trump's administration. Greenberg defended the change, saying it better protects immigrants and avoided large-scale ICE raids in Louisville. 

Experts say firing at a moving car is one of the riskiest forms of lethal force, increasing the chance of stray gunfire or a loss of vehicle control that can endanger bystanders.

Justice Department policy says deadly force is allowed only when no reasonable alternative exists, including stepping out of the vehicle's path.

Additionally, policies generally state officers cannot use deadly force solely to arrest someone or to disable a fleeing vehicle if the person does not pose an immediate threat. ICE and other federal officers operate under similar Justice Department guidance limiting gunfire at vehicles, although federal agents have added legal protections when acting within their official duties.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, allows deadly force only when an officer reasonably believes someone poses an imminent threat of death or serious injury.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday in New York that there would be a federal investigation into the shooting, adding that she believes the officer followed his training and the shooting was justified. She again called the woman's actions "domestic terrorism."

Noem claimed the woman was part of a "mob of agitators" and said the officer followed his training. She said the veteran officer who fired his gun had been rammed and dragged by an anti-ICE motorist in June.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara gave no indication that the driver was trying to harm anyone when he described the shooting to reporters Wednesday.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called Noem's description of the events "garbage," saying he had watched videos of the shooting that show it wasn't self-defense and was avoidable.

Related Stories:

Louisville ends sanctuary city status amid federal pressure and funding risks

ICE officer kills a Minneapolis driver in a deadly start to Trump's latest immigration operation

Minnesota must play a role in the investigation into Renee Good's killing by ICE, governor says

Woman killed by ICE agent in Minneapolis was a mother of 3, poet and new to the city

Minneapolis shooting by ICE agent brings debate over police force and moving vehicles back in focus

Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press also contributed to this report.