UPDATE: The FBI has squeezed Minnesota law enforcement out of ICE shooting investigation

An important update on this morning's post regarding the killing of a 37-year-old mother and U.S. citizen by an ICE agent in Minneapolis

UPDATE:

Whether there will be a legitimate inquiry into the shooting death of a Minneapolis woman by an ICE agent yesterday is now in question.

Minnesota law enforcement authorities announced today that the FBI is excluding them from the investigation, freezing them out of the inquiry and blocking them from accessing evidence.

In a statement, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) said it was initially called upon to help investigate the shooting before federal officials “reversed course” and said the case would be solely led by the FBI. As it now no longer has access to the case materials, witnesses and evidence, the BCA said it had “reluctantly” withdrawn from the investigation.

Which means, of course, that the Trump administration has decided to investigate its own conduct. You may be forgiven if concerns about a cover-up arise.

Meanwhile, The Washington Post has done a frame-by-frame analysis of video of the shooting, which the newspaper says clearly shows the agent who killed Renee Nicole Good was not in the vehicle’s path.

PREVIOUS STORY:

If you were to walk down the street of any city in Florida, pull out your pistol (open carry of firearms being legal and all) and shoot a woman in a car in plain sight of witnesses, including law enforcement officers, what do you imagine would happen to you?

• A. Would you just walk away, no muss, no fuss?

• B. Would you be tackled and beaten senseless by witnesses and/or the law enforcement officers who witnessed the murder?

• C. Would you stop, turn over your weapon, and surrender to police?

We know what the answer to this is if you happen to be an ICE agent killing innocent women in Minneapolis. The answer is A.

Bonus round:

Would the president of the United States in the aftermath of the shooting:

• A. Insist that the woman was a “professional agitator” who deserved to die?

• B. Claim the victim, a 37-year-old mother of three, was ”violently, willfully, and viciously” trying to run the shooter over despite video showing her driving away?

• C. Claim the shooter acted in self defense because somehow a car driving away from him was a danger?

That’s what your president said after the shooting.

But that’s not what Jacob Frey, mayor of Minneapolis, had to say in the aftermath. He told ICE:

“Get the fuck out of Minneapolis.”

Well, not so fast there, Mister Mayor. First, somebody has to go to jail.

Now, back to my original question: What would take place if this murder happened here in Florida?

I can imagine our governor, Ron DeSantis, parroting Donald Trump: Self defense, she got what she deserved, yadda, yadda, yadda.

But we expect more from Minnesota.

Sure, you’ve had your own homegrown problems with police brutality: George Floyd’s murder at the hands of Minneapolis police five years ago that ignited waves of protests.

But all four cops involved in Floyd’s death went to prison.

So, you folks up in Minnesota know how to handle this sort of thing when law enforcement officers break the law and kill people.

You arrest them.

You try them.

You send them to prison.

Clock’s ticking. Somebody needs to be in jail and soon.

You owe that to this woman:

J.C. Bruce is the founder of Tropic Press, a journalist, and award-winning author. He holds dual citizenship in the United States of America and his native Florida.

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