The FBI Didn't Respond to Minnesota Investigators' Texts for Days After Renee Good's Killing

At a glance:

• FBI failed to respond to Minnesota investigators' texts for at least two days after Renee Good's shooting by a federal immigration officer.
• The communication breakdown led to a lawsuit filed by Minnesota authorities against federal agencies, claiming a breakdown in cooperation during "Operation Metro Surge."
• State investigators were denied access to crime scene evidence and interviews, potentially compromising their ability to conduct a thorough investigation.

Communication Breakdown After Shooting

On January 7, federal immigration enforcement officer Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Good at approximately 9:37 am local time. That same day, Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), texted a Federal Bureau of Investigation counterpart requesting access to crime scene evidence. According to records obtained by WIRED through a public records request, the FBI did not respond to these messages for at least two days.

The texts, seemingly captured between January 9 and 13 from an iOS device, show a series of messages from Evans to an FBI assistant special agent in charge (ASAC). The only response from the FBI agent came at 11:17 am local time, with a message that began with "ERO"—likely referring to Enforcement and Removal Operations, the ICE branch overseeing arrests and deportations. By the time the image of these texts was captured, the FBI agent had not replied to Evans' follow-up message sent at 4:29 pm.

State Authorities Locked Out of Investigation

The communication breakdown occurred shortly before the FBI informed the BCA that the investigation into Good's death "would be led solely by the FBI" and that the BCA "would no longer have access to the case materials, scene evidence or investigative interviews necessary to complete a thorough and independent investigation." According to a BCA press release published on January 8, this notification came "later in the afternoon."

The lawsuit, filed on March 24 by the BCA, Hennepin County Attorney, and the state of Minnesota against the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice, alleges that BCA investigators were "excluded from interviews, prevented from following standard investigative procedures, and blocked from accessing key physical evidence." The lawsuit claims that less than an hour after FBI agents told BCA they would be included in interviews with federal officers, HSI agents prevented BCA agents from participating in those interviews.

Lawsuit Claims Systemic Breakdown

The lawsuit extends beyond the Good case, also demanding access to materials related to two other shootings involving federal agents: the January 24 killing of nurse Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents and the January 14 shooting of Venezuelan Minneapolis resident Julio Sosa-Celis by a federal immigration agent. "The longstanding practice of cooperation and evidence-sharing between federal and Minnesota law enforcement authorities broke down during DHS's Operation Metro Surge," the lawsuit states, adding that this partnership "abruptly ended once federal leadership became involved."

BCA investigators had "trusted that important evidence gathered by federal investigators"—including Good's car, the ICE agent's gun, and shell casings at the scene—would be available to them. The lawsuit claims that "had BCA investigators known that federal authorities would thereafter refuse them access to evidence collected at the scene, they would have taken different measures to secure the availability of that evidence." When the BCA sought an explanation, the FBI referred them to the US attorney for the District of Minnesota, who reportedly confirmed to Superintendent Evans that evening that "there would be no joint investigation and no federal cooperation or evidence sharing with state authorities."

Timeline of Events

The sequence of events began with the shooting of Renee Good on January 7. Protesters began gathering near the crime scene shortly after news of her death circulated. Throughout the day, Evans sent multiple messages to the FBI ASAC, requesting cooperation and expressing concerns about the deteriorating situation at the crime scene. By the end of the day, it was clear that federal authorities would not be sharing information or allowing state investigators access to the case.

The communication breakdown continued into the following days, with the FBI remaining unresponsive to Minnesota authorities' requests. This lack of cooperation ultimately led to the March 24 lawsuit, which seeks to compel federal authorities to provide state and local law enforcement with access to investigative materials relevant to all three shootings. The FBI has not responded to WIRED's request for comment on the matter.

Implications for Federal-State Relations

The incident highlights a significant breakdown in the traditionally cooperative relationship between federal and state law enforcement agencies. The lawsuit alleges that this breakdown was not an isolated incident but rather part of a pattern during "Operation Metro Surge," a DHS initiative that appears to have altered the nature of cooperation between federal and Minnesota authorities.

The implications of this case extend beyond these specific incidents. If federal agencies continue to operate without transparency or cooperation with state and local authorities, it could undermine the ability to conduct thorough investigations and maintain public trust in law enforcement. The outcome of this lawsuit may set important precedents for how federal and state agencies interact in critical investigations involving federal officers.

What Happens Next

The lawsuit filed by Minnesota authorities against federal agencies is now in the hands of the courts. The outcome will determine whether federal authorities are compelled to share evidence and allow state investigators access to their work in these cases. Legal experts will be watching closely to see how the courts balance the interests of state and federal authorities in such matters.

Meanwhile, the families of Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and Julio Sosa-Celis await justice in their cases. The communication breakdown between federal and state authorities has already complicated investigations into these incidents, and further delays or obstructions could have serious consequences for the pursuit of truth and accountability in these shootings.