LOS ANGELES — Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers called the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a federal agent in Minneapolis “straight-up murder” on Friday, hours after fellow NBA coach Steve Kerr blasted federal officials’ response to the incident.
Good was shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis on Wednesday, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held a moment of silence for her before their home game Thursday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Rivers was asked how he felt about athletes being asked about politics and participating in the political sphere before the Bucks played the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. In his response, Rivers spoke out about the deadly shooting and racial issues in the United States.
“What happened in Minnesota was a straight-up murder, in my opinion,” Rivers said. “And it’s awful. This lady was probably trying to go home, and she didn’t make it home and that’s really sad. The whole ICE thing is, it’s a travesty.”
Trump administration officials say Good was impeding an ICE operation when the shooting occurred.
Videos show Good, 37, was killed on a residential street after agents approached her and ordered her to get out of her vehicle, which was partly blocking one lane. After an agent tried to open the driver’s side door, another agent stepped in front of the vehicle. An agent shot Good after she attempted to drive away.
President Donald Trump and administration officials have said Good used her vehicle as a weapon and that the agent acted in self-defense. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and others have disputed that description and called the shooting reckless.
When ICE first started making mass arrests in his hometown of Chicago in October, Rivers spoke out about the agency’s tactics before the Bucks played the Chicago Bulls in a preseason game. On Friday, he again denounced the organization’s activity throughout the country.
“It’s clear, to me, we’re attacking Brown people, and I just happen to be Brown,” Rivers said of ICE activity on Friday night. “And I don’t think it should just be Brown people who are upset at this. I think we all have to be.
“I don’t care what side of this thing you are on politically. What’s going on in our country right now is absolutely wrong, as far as the race stuff. The politics, I’m not gonna get into. The race stuff, I will. And it’s just wrong, and we have to do something, but the only thing we can do right now is keep speaking up because it doesn’t seem like they care and that’s troublesome.”
Rivers, one of the NBA’s most outspoken coaches, was not alone in addressing the shooting in Minneapolis. Kerr also spoke about it and a federal government response that he characterized as “shameful.”
“I’m glad that the Timberwolves recognized her life and the tragic nature of her death,” Kerr said. “It’s shameful, really, that in our country we can have law enforcement officers who commit murder and seemingly get away with it. It’s shameful that the government can come out and lie about what happened when there’s video and witnesses who have all come out and disputed what the government is saying. So, very demoralizing, devastating to lose anyone’s life, especially in that manner. So it’s terrible, terribly sad for her family, and for her, and that city, and I’m glad the Timberwolves came out and expressed that sadness.”