Communication Breakdown: FBI Ignored Minnesota Investigator Texts for Days After ICE Shooting

The fatal shooting of Renee Good by a federal immigration enforcement officer on January 7 has exposed significant communication failures between state and federal law enforcement agencies. According to records obtained by WIRED through a public records request, text messages sent by Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Superintendent Drew Evans to an FBI counterpart went unanswered for at least two days, creating a critical breakdown in investigative cooperation that has now escalated to federal litigation.

The Shooting Incident and Initial Communication

On January 7, federal immigration enforcement and deportation officer Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Good at approximately 9:37 am local time. That same day, BCA Superintendent Drew Evans began texting an FBI assistant special agent in charge (ASAC) from the Minneapolis branch, requesting access to the crime scene evidence and coordination on investigative interviews. According to the records, Evans sent multiple messages throughout the day seeking cooperation between the agencies.

The texts reveal Evans' attempts to establish joint investigative procedures, including his request that "Can you be sure with your folks to include us on interviews" and his concern that "It sounds like they have tried to do some and keep us out of them." Evans emphasized the importance of "one set of interviews/interactions so we have a common understanding of the facts and information," highlighting standard inter-agency cooperation practices that were apparently breaking down.

The Communication Breakdown

The records show that after Evans' initial texts at 12:56 pm, he received no response from the FBI agent. He followed up at 4:29 pm with another message: "I think we should do this tonight still unless your team is done for the evening. I'd like to get on the same page on a few things if possible." According to the image captured between January 9 and 13, the FBI agent had not replied at the time the screenshot was taken.

This communication failure occurred as protesters began gathering near the site of Good's killing, creating additional challenges for investigators. Evans noted in his texts that "We are going to cancel crime scene - sounds like a lot of federal agents showed up to confront the crowd and it's getting very contentious now," indicating the deteriorating situation on the ground.

Legal Consequences and Federal Lawsuit

The communication breakdown eventually contributed to the BCA, Hennepin County Attorney, and the state of Minnesota filing a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice on March 24. The lawsuit demands that federal authorities give state and local law enforcement access to investigative material relevant to the shootings of Good; Alex Pretti, a nurse shot and killed by Border Patrol agents on January 24; and Julio Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan Minneapolis resident shot and injured by a federal immigration agent on January 14.

The lawsuit claims that "The longstanding practice of cooperation and evidence-sharing between federal and Minnesota law enforcement authorities broke down during DHS's Operation Metro Surge," adding that this partnership "abruptly ended once federal leadership became involved." According to the legal filing, BCA investigators were "excluded from interviews, prevented from following standard investigative procedures, and blocked from accessing key physical evidence."

Broader Implications for Federal-State Cooperation

This incident raises significant questions about inter-agency cooperation protocols during joint investigations. The lawsuit alleges that "less than an hour" after FBI agents told BCA agents they would be included in interviews with federal officers present when Good was killed, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents would not allow BCA agents to be present. When the BCA asked the FBI for an explanation, they were referred 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 officials."

The communication breakdown represents more than just a procedural failure—it has real consequences for investigative integrity and public trust. As noted in the lawsuit, "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." This includes critical items like Good's car, the ICE agent's gun, and shell casings from the scene.

Conclusion

The unanswered texts from Minnesota investigators to their FBI counterparts reveal a troubling breakdown in what should be routine inter-agency cooperation. This communication failure has not only hampered the investigation into Renee Good's death but has also escalated to federal litigation that challenges the fundamental principles of collaborative law enforcement. As state and federal agencies navigate increasingly complex jurisdictional issues, this case serves as a critical reminder of the importance of clear communication protocols and mutual respect between law enforcement partners at all levels of government.