An official from the Department of Homeland Security has verified the authenticity of a video obtained by CNN. This footage, captured on the cellphone of a DHS agent, was initially acquired by the conservative Minnesota-based media outlet, Alpha News.
The video was later shared by Vice President JD Vance, who stated that it demonstrates the risk faced by the officer involved.
“As difficult as it is to watch, this footage shows the truth,” Vance posted on X. “Contrary to claims that this law enforcement officer wasn’t hit or harassed, and that he killed an innocent woman, the video reveals his life was in danger, prompting him to act in self-defense.”
The video begins with an officer named Ross standing in front of a vehicle driven by a woman named Good. Her burgundy SUV is positioned perpendicularly on the street, causing a traffic obstruction. Ross silently walks around the front of the vehicle toward the driver’s side.
As Ross approaches, Good is visible with her window down, making direct eye contact with the officer.
The recording captures a conversation initiated by Good as she engages with Officer Ross.
“That’s fine dude. I’m not mad at you,” she says. Ross does not respond. In the car window a reflection can be seen of Ross, holding his phone up, as he continues to walk. You can also hear the victim’s wife, Becca Good, say “show your face” to Ross.
The video shows Ross walking around to the back of the car. Becca Good, the passenger in the car, who had gotten out of the vehicle prior to the confrontation, tells Ross that, “We don’t change our plates every morning, just so you know. This will be the same plate when you come talk to us later.”
She holds a mobile phone up to Ross’s face as she addresses Ross.
“You wanna come at us? You wanna come at us? I say go get yourself some lunch, big boy,” she says to Ross. She then tries to get back in the car, but the door is locked.
You then hear another officer tell Good, the driver, to “get out of the fucking car.”
Good is then seen reversing the car and glancing forward as she turns the steering wheel to the right, away from where the officer is standing. The car moves forward, and Ross cries out “whoa” and then three gunshots are heard in rapid succession.
The video does not show if the SUV made contact with Ross, as the camera angle jerks up to the sky. An earlier video shot by a bystander shows that the SUV may have made contact with Ross as it lurches forward, and he moves to the side.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the newly released video backs up what the agency has said â that the ICE agent acted in self-defence.
“This footage corroborates what DHS has stated all along â that this individual was impeding law enforcement and weaponised her vehicle in an attempt to kill or cause bodily harm to federal law enforcement. The officer was in fear of his own life, the lives of his fellow officers and acted in self-defence. The American people can watch this video with their own eyes and ears and judge for themselves,” McLaughlin said in a statement on Friday.
The shooting itself is not visible, but three gunshots are heard as the phone in his hand jostles further and then is facing the house behind Ross.
The camera then captures the SUV as it barrels forward. Someone can be heard uttering “fâing bitch”.
The impact of the SUV crashing into a parked car can be heard as well as the camera pans down to the street.
