Arizona GOP congressional candidate says ICE officer who fatally shot woman was ‘100% justified’

PHOENIX — Former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who is running for Congress, said he believes the federal agent who shot and killed a driver in Minneapolis last week was justified.

“One hundred percent justified, and, no, I would not have handled it differently,” Lamb told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem share Lamb’s opinion. They have described the Minneapolis shooting as an act of self-defense, suggesting 37-year-old Renee Good used her vehicle as a weapon to attack Jonathan Ross before the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shot her.

Ross had “every right” to use lethal force, especially considering that Ross previously sustained vehicular injuries after a driver tried to flee arrest in 2024, dragging Ross roughly 100 yards, Lamb said.

“Now he’s facing being run over again, potentially seriously physically injuring himself or dying from that,” Lamb said.

Lamb is running to represent Arizona’s 5th Congressional District in Washington, D.C. The seat is currently held by Rep. Andy Biggs, who is running for Arizona governor instead of reelection.

Trump has endorsed Lamb’s campaign, calling him a MAGA warrior who “knows the wisdom and courage it takes to ensure law and order.”

Other Arizona officials condemn ICE agent who fatally shot Renee Good

A Democrat who represents Arizona in Congress, Yassamin Ansari, holds the opposite opinion, calling ICE a “rogue agency.” She also joined as an original cosponsor on articles of impeachment for Noem.

“ICE murdered a U.S. citizen,” Ansari said last week. “A woman is dead. A child has been left without a parent. A community is shattered.”

Another Democrat from Arizona, U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton, also condemned the shooting, calling it “a tragedy.”

Mark Lamb explains why he thinks ICE officer Jonathan Ross was justified

However, Lamb alleged Good was impeding ICE operations with her vehicle before Ross opened fire.

“Even though she wasn’t in handcuffs, she was already breaking the law,” Lamb said. “She was obstructing. There’s multiple codes she was violating. She was harboring, concealing and shielding people that are in this country illegally. So, she was breaking many laws already.”

He called for political leaders to stop stirring up anti-ICE sentiments.

“Tell your people to stop obstructing law enforcement in doing their job,” Lamb said. “Please stop obstructing them because it’s a dangerous thing, not just for them and law enforcement, but it’s a dangerous thing, obviously, for the public as well, but that was a justified shooting.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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