US investigators will face a host of thorny questions in determining whether the fatal shooting of a woman by a federal agent in Minneapolis last week was justified, as local and national officials recount drastically different accounts of an incident that sparked nationwide protests.
Several videos have emerged showing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Ross firing at and killing Renee Good, 37, while she was behind the wheel of her burgundy Honda in a residential neighborhood of the northern city.
President Donald Trump and his administration have described Good as a domestic terrorist who was trying to run over the ICE agent, while state officials have said Good, a mother of three, was trying to leave the scene.
Former law enforcement officials told the BBC that a review of the incident could plausibly find the agent was justified in using deadly force because he believed Good was a threat. However, they said Trump officials' strong public statements in support of Ross could complicate the investigation.
Local and federal officials have cited video footage of the incident to support their interpretations. Multiple angles show ICE agents approaching a car and demanding the driver, Good, to exit. The situation escalates when the car begins to move, resulting in shots fired by Ross.
The investigation will also consider if the ICE officer's actions aligned with Department of Homeland Security policy on the use of deadly force. Former agents suggest that Ross's past experiences, including being injured in a previous incident, could influence their assessment of whether his use of force was appropriate.
Witness accounts, scene reconstruction, and the contrasting conclusions drawn by local and federal authorities add layers to a case that reflects larger debates around policing practices and immigration enforcement in the U.S.
