(NewsNation) — Paul Rieckhoff, host of the “Independent Americans” podcast and U.S. Army veteran, told NewsNation that it was “only a matter of time before someone got killed,” in reference to the death of a 37-year-old woman who was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
Rieckhoff said that he’s surprised “something like this” didn’t happen sooner, pointing to what he describes as a lack of “discipline” and unwarranted “aggression” from ICE agents in recent months.
“I will argue as a former military person … ICE is too aggressive, I think they’re too combative, I think they’re too everywhere and I think they’re too undisciplined,” Rieckhoff added.
Rieckhoff suggests the country take a collective “deep breath,” warning that the shooting “has the potential to be a tipping point that could rip our country apart in a way that’ll have our enemies celebrating.”
The details of what led to the fatal shooting are being debated by federal and Minneapolis city officials. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the woman died after being shot by an ICE officer after the agency said the woman attempted to run over federal agents with her vehicle.
McLaughlin said the officer “fired defensive shots,” while Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey rejected the federal agency’s explanation, calling it a ”garbage narrative.”
Rieckhoff said that, based on videos he’s seen of the incident and his prior military experience, “there’s gonna be a lot of people who say this woman wasn’t an immediate threat.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz wrote on social media that the state will ensure that a “full, fair and expeditious investigation” is conducted to ensure accountability and justice.
“I’ve seen the video,” Walz wrote on X. “Don’t believe this (DHS) propaganda machine.”
NewsNation’s Ali Bradley and Jeff Arnold contributed to this report.