On Wednesday, ESPN host Stephen A. Smith expressed his views on the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agents in Minnesota during his podcast.
He stated that while the shooting was “totally justified” legally, he questioned whether the agent could have simply shot the tire of Good’s vehicle instead.
“I’ve looked at that video numerous times. It’s a law enforcement situation, so focus on the legal angle. He won’t face prosecution; he was justified,” Smith remarked.
“Yet, from a humanitarian perspective, was lethal force necessary? If the agent could move out of the way, couldn’t he have aimed for the tire first? After doing so, he could have stepped back a bit. If that didn’t work, then moving the car would’ve been an option.”
“She didn’t need to die. Good wasn’t speeding down the road. She was stopped in the middle of the street, being unreasonable by attempting to flee without exiting her vehicle and ignoring law enforcement commands. Ultimately, that’s what led to her tragic death.”
At the time of her death, Good was behind the wheel.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem indicated that the officers had instructed her to exit the car, but she allegedly refused and tried to hit them instead.
Noem described the incident as “an act of domestic terrorism,” asserting, “Our officers acted swiftly and defensively, firing to protect themselves and others nearby.”
Federal authorities maintain that Good attempted to run over ICE agents who were part of a 2,000-member operation in the Twin Cities aimed at apprehending and deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records.
Members of the Minneapolis City Council acknowledged Good’s identity in a shared statement, referring to her as “a member of our community” and calling for ICE to cease operations in the city.
Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security reported that assaults against ICE officers had surged over 1,150% since the Biden administration took office. Between January 21, 2025, and November 21, 2025, 238 assaults were recorded, a stark increase from just 19 during the same timeframe in 2024.
