Activists protest the Wednesday shooting death of Renee Good in Minneapolis at Pershing Square in Los Angeles on Saturday. Thousands converged in Minneapolis and across the country following federal officer-involved shootings of Good in Minneapolis on Wednesday and two others in Portland on Thursday. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
Jan. 13 (UPI) — Several top officials in the U.S. Department of Justice quit Tuesday due to the department’s handling of the Renee Good killing by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.
The New York Times, MS Now and Minnesota Public Radio reported that as many as six officials resigned from their roles in the department, including attorneys with the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office.
According to The New York Times, the Justice Department pushed for an investigation into Good’s widow after Good, a 37-year-old mother, was fatally shot in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
MPR News reported that Joe Thompson is among six Justice Department officials in Minnesota who have resigned.
Thompson pushed back on the department for not including Minnesota officials in its investigation of the incident. He also objected to the department not investigating Jonathan Ross, the agent who killed Good.
The FBI is investigating the shooting.
Joining Thompson in resigning were other senior prosecutors Harry Jacobs, Melinda Williams and Thomas Calhoun-Lopez.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon reportedly informed her staff that Good’s killing would not be investigated by her division.
On Monday, MS Now reported that four top officials in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division were leaving their posts over the handling of the shooting. The Civil Rights Division investigates officer-involved shootings.
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance weighed in on the shooting the day it happened. Both said the officer was justified in firing his weapon, with Trump saying Good ran the officer over.
Local and state officials said video of the incident tells a different story, with the wheels of Good’s vehicle turned away from Ross and the other officers as she attempted to drive away. Ross fired three shots at Good through her windshield and driver’s side window.