'Barbarous behavior': Legal experts warn deadly ICE shooting will lead to charges

[LetMyPeopleVote]

This ICE asshole will be prosecuted and should be convicted. I am a corporate law attorney but to me the video is very clear that this was a crime and needs to be prosecuted

'Barbarous behavior': Legal experts warn deadly ICE shooting will lead to charges---the ICE GESTAPO AGENT MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR MURDER...

— ladyracer71.bsky.social (@ladyracer71.bsky.social) 2026-01-07T20:59:51.069Z

https://www.rawstory.com/ice-shooting/

Legal experts have begun to weigh in on the harrowing video from Minneapolis of an ICE agent fatally shooting a woman through the driver's side window of her car as she began to pull away from them — and at least some believe that state criminal charges could be imminent.

The Department of Homeland Security has denied any wrongdoing in the incident, arguing that the officer credibly feared for his life and was justified in using deadly force.

However, experts watching video footage of the shooting don't think DHS's version of the story adds up.

"Secretary of Defense Kristi Noem now says that the middle aged white woman who was shot in the head and killed by an ICE agent was a 'domestic terrorist,'" wrote lawyer and newsletter writer Amee Vanderpool on X. "Watch the video of it that is everywhere. You can see for yourself that every word out of Noem's mouth here is a lie."

"Let a jury decide whether that officer was justified in using deadly force, not MAGA meatheads on social media," wrote former federal prosecutor and ex-Republican staffer turned liberal punditry editor Ron Filipkowski.

"I just saw the video from Minneapolis. Barbarous behavior," wrote Georgia State University constitutional law professor Anthony Michael Kreis, adding, "I will be shocked if the state doesn’t indict."

"#ICE brutality is the equally ugly twin of police brutality," wrote Harvard Kennedy School professor and former NAACP president Cornell Brooks. "Racially profiling Black & Brown migrants for deportation is as dangerous for all Americans as racially profiling Black & Brown citizens for incarceration. Reckless racist law enforcement is a public safety threat."

[SSJVegeta]

1. It is strange to me that murder is likely to result in charges while what is essentially kidnapping, would not

Yes murder is worse, but ICE is turning into the murder and kidnapping squad.

[RockRaven]

2. Even charges, never mind an effected arrest and prosecution, I will believe when I see.

Until it actually happens, expect nothing.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. These will be state charges and NOT federal charges

trump and Noem will not be able to block these charges

[Bayard]

9. Are you sure that's the way this should go?

I really, really hope you're right.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. In 2017, the DOJ refused to bring charges and the State of Virginia ended up indicting the trump asshole

Like in 2017, I have no doubt that the trump DOJ will not prosecute this murderer

Link to tweet

Walkinshaw: It is absolutely horrific. We’ve been through this in Virginia. In 2017, U.S. Park Police shot and killed Bijan Ghaisar, who was unarmed, while driving his car. After an investigation, the DOJ refused to press charges against those officers. They were, however, indicted in Virginia—so that option exists under the law in Minnesota as well.

On the Oversight Committee, we’re going to vote to subpoena DHS for all documents related to this shooting.

[Bayard]

12. Thanks!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

13. As federal employees, they will be able to move it to federal court (state law still governs)

That Virginia case was dismissed by a federal judge.

I think it’s all going to hinge on which shot killed her. A judge might say #1 was justified. Maybe #2 and 3 will be seen as unjustified.

It’s going to be an uphill battle to get Justice.

[Solly Mack]

4. It should lead to charges. Should.

And I hope it does.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. ICE blocked a doctor from treating the victim

Link to tweet

[electric_blue68]

6. "domestic terrorist" STFU, koem!

[kwolf68]

7. This is happening in America!!!

Eom

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. MaddowBlog-Trump responds to ICE shooting in Minneapolis in a typically Trumpian fashion

The president could’ve tried to calm the waters and vow a thorough, independent investigation. Instead, he did what he always does.

Exactly one year ago this week, @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social noted that Trump “is at his absolute worst in a crisis.”

The line came to mind reading Trump's reaction to an ICE agent shooting and killing an unarmed woman in Minneapolis — at which point did what he always does.

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-01-07T21:44:33.740Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-minneapolis-ice-shooting-social-media

Details of the deadly incident are still coming into focus, but based on the available information, we know that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed a woman Wednesday during an operation in Minneapolis. The Trump administration immediately accused the victim — an unarmed, 37-year-old civilian — of “domestic terrorism,” even as many of those who’ve seen the video evidence of what transpired have drawn a very different conclusion.

“Having seen the video … myself, I want to tell everybody directly that is bullshit,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said of the administration’s claims. “This was an [ICE] agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying, getting killed.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey tells ICE to "get the f*** out" of city after agent kills woman

www.ms.now/news/federal....

— MS NOW (@ms.now) 2026-01-07T18:46:03.799Z

In theory, Donald Trump could’ve taken this opportunity to calm the waters and vow a thorough, independent investigation. In practice, however, the president responded to the developments in a typically Trumpian way....

His statement went on to argue:

The woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self defense. Based on the attached clip, it is hard to believe he is alive, but is now recovering in the hospital.

The situation is being studied, in its entirety, but the reason these incidents are happening is because the Radical Left is threatening, assaulting, and targeting our Law Enforcement Officers and ICE Agents on a daily basis. They are just trying to do the job of MAKING AMERICA SAFE. We need to stand by and protect our Law Enforcement Officers from this Radical Left Movement of Violence and Hate!

......Exactly one year ago this week, The New York Times’ David French noted that Trump “is at his absolute worst in a crisis.” The columnist, whose observation at the time was related to foreign policy, added of the president, “He is not a man who is ready to meet important and dangerous moments.”

That observation remains astute for a reason.

Tim Walz: "Our administration is going to stop at nothing to seek accountability and justice. The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is working on the investigation."

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-01-07T21:06:28.032Z

For his part, Tim Walz, Minnesota’s Democratic governor, told the public on Wednesday afternoon, “Our administration is going to stop at nothing to seek accountability and justice. The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is working on the investigation.”

[UTUSN]

11. K&R