Minneapolis Public Schools close amid protests over ICE operations, fatal shooting

Minneapolis Public Schools closed Thursday and Friday as protests erupted following a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shooting a woman a day earlier who was allegedly attempting to run agents over.

On Thursday, MPS confirmed an incident outside Roosevelt High School involving ICE agents on Wednesday after the shooting of the woman, Renee Nicole Good, FOX 9 reported.

According to videos posted online, there appeared to be a confrontation between ICE agents and students at the school, including the use of a chemical irritant like tear gas.

MPS said in a statement that it "is aware of an incident that happened after school yesterday, outside of Roosevelt High School. This incident involved federal law enforcement agents and is currently under investigation. We are working with our partners including the City of Minneapolis and others to support the individuals directly impacted.

"Minneapolis Public Schools is committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming learning environment for all of our students. All MPS schools are closed today, January 8 and tomorrow, January 9 out of an abundance of caution."

In a statement from the teachers union, the Minneapolis Federation of Educators, they said that ICE agents deployed gas while detaining a school worker during dismissal.

"We will not tolerate ICE inhibiting our city’s youth from their constitutional right to attend school safely or inhibiting educators from doing their job," the statement reads. "This is the moment to act. All MFE members and Minneapolis community members who have not done so already are encouraged to attend MONARCA upstander training and to become connected with their local community rapid response networks."

On Thursday morning, protesters briefly clashed with federal authorities in riot gear outside the Whipple Building, which houses the regional ICE headquarters. Officers arrested at least two people and deployed chemical irritants.

Also, at the scene of the shooting, a memorial was held for Good, and protesters created a barrier to prevent traffic from passing it.

On Wednesday, Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said that Good was shot in her vehicle in a residential neighborhood in Minneapolis.

"Today, ICE officers in Minneapolis were conducting targeted operations when rioters began blocking ICE officers and one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them—an act of domestic terrorism," McLaughlin said in a statement.

"An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots."