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 neighbourhood 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.
But they said Trump officials' strong public statements in support of Ross in the immediate aftermath of the shooting could complicate the investigation.
Local and federal officials have both cited video footage of the incident to support their interpretations of the event. Multiple angles show ICE agents approaching a car in the middle of the street and asking the driver - Good - to get out. One of the agents then tugs at the driver's side door handle.
As the vehicle begins to move forward, Ross, who was also filming, points and shoots at Good. The car turns away from the officers and crashes on the side of the road.
Local and state officials assert that the videos demonstrate that Good was not a threat as she was turning away from the agent, while federal officials argue that the videos indicate Good was attempting to ram the officer with her car.
In concluding whether the ICE officer was justified in shooting Good, investigators must compare Ross's actions in the videos to the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) policy on the use of deadly force. According to DHS policy, agents can use deadly force if they face a threat of death or serious bodily harm.
D'Amico suggested that while officials may initially determine Ross's actions were justified, subsequent shots fired at a vehicle moving away could raise questions about necessity and appropriate response, underscoring the complexities of such situations.
This case also illuminates ongoing jurisdiction disputes as local officials express concerns about bias in a federal-only investigation, emphasizing the need for thorough oversight and transparency in the review process of this charged incident.
