Minneapolis, Minnesota – The ICE officer who fatally shot a Minnesota woman during an immigration enforcement encounter this week was previously injured after being dragged by a vehicle during a separate arrest operation in June, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Details of both incidents were first reported by NBC News.
Officer Previously Injured During June Immigration Arrest
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said the officer was involved in a June traffic stop in Minneapolis targeting Roberto Carlos Muñoz-Guatemala, who DHS says was in the United States illegally and had prior arrests and convictions, including domestic assault and sex crimes involving a minor.
Court documents state that during the stop, the suspect refused to comply. When the officer broke the car window and reached inside, his arm became trapped. As the suspect drove off, the officer was dragged by the vehicle, an incident that was captured on video.
The officer suffered multiple lacerations and required 33 stitches, according to court filings. The documents identified the officer as Jonathan Ross, though DHS later declined to publicly confirm his identity.
DHS Defends Officer’s Training and Background
After NBC News contacted DHS for comment, McLaughlin issued a statement saying the department would not “expose the name of this officer,” adding that he “acted according to his training” and has more than 10 years of experience as an ICE deportation officer.
McLaughlin said the officer had been selected for ICE’s Special Response Team, an elite unit requiring extensive tryouts, firearms certification, and ongoing training in tactical operations such as hostage rescue, breaching techniques, and perimeter control. Officers assigned to the team must maintain expert-level firearms qualifications.
Fatal Shooting of Minnesota Woman
The June incident occurred roughly seven months before Wednesday’s fatal shooting, when the officer opened fire on an SUV, killing Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother.
Good’s mother, Donna Ganger, told a local newspaper that her daughter was “one of the kindest people I’ve ever known.”
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said during a press conference that the officer involved was “an experienced officer.” DHS officials also said the officer does not appear to be part of ICE’s recent hiring surge that began in August 2025.
Conflicting Accounts From Federal and Local Officials
Witnesses told NBC News that it appeared Good was attempting to flee as ICE agents approached her vehicle. Noem claimed the driver struck the officer, while Vice President JD Vance said the shooting was an act of self-defense. President Donald Trump stated that the woman had “violently, willfully, and viciously” run over the officer.
Local Minneapolis officials strongly disputed those claims. Mayor Jacob Frey publicly criticized DHS statements, calling them false.
Video Evidence Raises Questions
Publicly available video footage appears to contradict federal claims that the officer was run over. In one video, the officer is seen drawing his weapon and firing as the SUV shifts from reverse into drive. The officer continues firing as the vehicle accelerates away.
A second video from another angle shows the officer being knocked backward as the SUV moves forward, but it does not show him being run over. The footage has intensified scrutiny of official statements surrounding the shooting.
June Arrest Case Still Relevant
The criminal complaint in the June dragging incident confirms that the same officer was involved in the attempted arrest of Muñoz-Guatemala. That case remains part of the broader review of the officer’s history as investigators continue examining Wednesday’s fatal shooting and the circumstances leading up to it.
