FBI Denies Minnesota's Request for Joint Investigation into Fatal Shooting of Woman by ICE Agent, State Agency Forced Out.
Minnesota investigators are now on the outside looking in as the FBI takes control of an ongoing investigation into the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), which initially responded to the scene and began coordinating investigative work, was abruptly cut out of the case by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to BCA Superintendent Drew Evans, his agency "responded promptly to the scene and began coordinating investigative work in good faith." However, when he was informed that the FBI would not allow access to necessary case materials, scene evidence, or interviews with witnesses, the BCA had no choice but to withdraw from the investigation entirely.
The decision has been met with widespread criticism, including from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and the city of Minneapolis. The state's top governor called for an independent investigation into the incident, stating "Let us, the professionals, handle this investigation on Minnesota soil." Meanwhile, Minneapolis officials expressed concerns about the investigation proceeding without state partners.
Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary, defended the FBI's decision to take control of the case, labeling Minnesota as a "corrupt" and "a train wreck". However, when questioned by reporters about why the BCA was being excluded from the investigation, Noem claimed that the agency simply lacked jurisdiction. Critics have challenged this claim, pointing out that the FBI's actions effectively denied state agencies their right to participate in an ongoing investigation.
The decision has sparked a heated debate about the balance of power between federal and state agencies in investigating crimes on state soil. As one Twitter user pointed out, "They have not been cut out," Noem said of the BCA, but critics argue that the agency's exclusion from the case is, in fact, a loss of transparency and accountability.
Minnesota investigators are now on the outside looking in as the FBI takes control of an ongoing investigation into the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), which initially responded to the scene and began coordinating investigative work, was abruptly cut out of the case by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to BCA Superintendent Drew Evans, his agency "responded promptly to the scene and began coordinating investigative work in good faith." However, when he was informed that the FBI would not allow access to necessary case materials, scene evidence, or interviews with witnesses, the BCA had no choice but to withdraw from the investigation entirely.
The decision has been met with widespread criticism, including from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and the city of Minneapolis. The state's top governor called for an independent investigation into the incident, stating "Let us, the professionals, handle this investigation on Minnesota soil." Meanwhile, Minneapolis officials expressed concerns about the investigation proceeding without state partners.
Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary, defended the FBI's decision to take control of the case, labeling Minnesota as a "corrupt" and "a train wreck". However, when questioned by reporters about why the BCA was being excluded from the investigation, Noem claimed that the agency simply lacked jurisdiction. Critics have challenged this claim, pointing out that the FBI's actions effectively denied state agencies their right to participate in an ongoing investigation.
The decision has sparked a heated debate about the balance of power between federal and state agencies in investigating crimes on state soil. As one Twitter user pointed out, "They have not been cut out," Noem said of the BCA, but critics argue that the agency's exclusion from the case is, in fact, a loss of transparency and accountability.
. it's not like the state agencies are just gonna sit back and let their agency be disrespected without a fight... but I guess when you're the ones with all the guns and paperwork, who needs transparency and accountability anyway? 
! i think the fbi is totally overstepping its bounds here. kristi noem just called minnesota corrupt? like, who does she even know about our state? 
Anyway, back to this news - it's all so frustrating when they take away someone's job like that... I mean, can't we all just get along and share information? 
The whole thing sounds super confusing and unfair. And honestly, who needs a cookie for stress relief when you have a good ol' fashioned walk in the park? 
governor walz is right on the money, we need to let the professionals handle this. and kristi noem can't just label minnesota as a "corrupt" state and expect everyone to believe it... corruption has nothing to do with it. 
The latest turn of events with the FBI taking control of this investigation is just mind-boggling. It feels like they're trying to sweep everything under the rug. I mean, what even is the justification for excluding the BCA from accessing crucial evidence? 
They claim it's because of jurisdiction issues, but come on... that doesn't add up.
.
. I mean, come on, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeling Minnesota as "a train wreck" 
? That's just ridiculous. It's like she's trying to shift the blame from herself and her team for messing up an investigation to the state agency that was initially handling it. The BCA had every right to be part of this investigation, especially since they were the first on the scene. And what's with Kristi claiming that the BCA lacked jurisdiction? 
That doesn't hold water at all. This whole thing just stinks of a power play by the FBI to control the narrative and hide something. The public deserves transparency and accountability, not some fancy cover-up job 
.
... It's all about transparency and accountability, you know? They claim it's about jurisdiction, but really it's just about who gets to control the narrative 
... The BCA had done their part, they were at the scene, and then suddenly they get kicked out 
... This whole thing stinks like rotten fish 
... I'm all for state agencies having a say in investigations, especially when it comes to something as serious as this 
...
. This whole situation just feels a bit fishy to me...
I'm seeing this whole thing as an example of how the lack of trust can lead to problems 
. If Minnesota had just been open with the FBI about what was going on instead of trying to hide some details (that's all we know, right?) it might've avoided this whole mess. Now we're left wondering who to believe and why the BCA got cut out of the case. It's like when you're in a conversation with someone and they're not being honest with you... eventually you start to lose trust 
. The state agency did their part, but without transparency, it's hard for anyone to know what really went down 
this is just another example of how out of touch the feds are! Like, what even is the point of having state agencies if they can just be shut down like that? The BCA had been doing their thing, investigating, trying to get answers... and then BAM, the FBI swoops in and takes control. It's not about jurisdiction, it's about who gets to decide what happens next in a case on state soil 
. The FBI swoopin' in like they're above the law 
. I mean, come on, we all know she's got her own agenda 
. The BCA was doin' their job, coordinatin' the investigation and gatherin' evidence... what did they ever do wrong? 
, but nobody's talkin'. This is just another example of the feds takin' over and leavin' the little guys in the dust