“It Was Murder on Camera”: Richard Petty Delivers Shocking, Somber Condemnation of ICE After Minneapolis Shooting
SPORTS & SOCIETY | NASCAR NEWS
“It Was Murder on Camera”: Richard Petty Delivers Shocking, Somber Condemnation of ICE After Minneapolis Shooting
By [Your Name/Publication Name] Sports Desk
Published January 8, 2026
LEVEL CROSS, NC – Richard Petty, known globally as “The King,” is the living embodiment of NASCAR. With his trademark feathered cowboy hat, dark sunglasses, and 200 career victories, he is a figure synonymous with stock car racing, Southern tradition, and a generally reserved, apolitical public persona. He talks about horsepower, history, and the fans. He does not, typically, weigh in on grave national tragedies or complex law enforcement controversies.
Yet, in a stunning departure that has sent shockwaves through the racing world and beyond, the 88-year-old legend left fans stunned on Thursday. In a raw, unscripted video statement, Petty delivered a furious and heartbreaking condemnation of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents involved in a fatal shooting in Minneapolis earlier this week.
Stepping firmly onto the side of the victim and echoing the outraged sentiments of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Petty used his immense platform—usually reserved for racing promotion—to demand justice in a way the sports world has arguably never seen from him.
The Incident That Broke The King’s Silence
The controversy stems from a Wednesday operation in Minneapolis where an ICE agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman.1 The official Department of Homeland Security (DHS) account claims agents fired in self-defense because the woman was “attempting to run over” them with her SUV.
However, viral bystander video tells a different story. The footage appears to show agents approaching the vehicle, which then reverses and begins to drive away from them. As the car is fleeing, an agent standing near the front of the vehicle fires three times directly into it. The woman later crashed and died.
The discrepancy led Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to tell ICE to “get out of Minneapolis,” accusing them of causing chaos rather than safety—a sentiment Petty surprisingly endorsed.2
“I Know Cars, and I Know Danger”
On Thursday morning, a video appeared on the official Petty’s Garage social media channels. It wasn’t a promotional clip for a new build or a throwback to his Daytona wins. It was Richard Petty, sitting in his office in Level Cross, looking visibly shaken.
“Folks, usually I stick to talking about race cars and the track,” Petty began, his familiar Southern drawl heavy with emotion. “But I saw something today that I just can’t shake. I watched that video from Minneapolis. The one with those federal agents and that woman in the car. And it made me sick to my stomach.”
Petty continued, leveraging his lifelong expertise to dismantle the official narrative.
“I’ve spent my entire life in and around automobiles,” he said, pointing a finger at the camera for emphasis. “I know what a car looks like when it’s being used as a weapon, and I know what a car looks like when someone is just scared and trying to get away. That car was driving away. She was backing up. She was leaving. And that agent… he just stood there and fired into that cabin like it was target practice.”
He paused, removing his sunglasses—a rare gesture that underscored the gravity of his words. “That wasn’t self-defense. I don’t care what badge you wear. That was a panic move. To me, it looked like murder on camera.”
A Legend’s Perspective
The reaction from Petty is particularly potent given the demographics of NASCAR’s fanbase, which historically leans conservative and supportive of law enforcement. For “The King” to publicly criticize federal agents is a watershed moment.
Petty seemed particularly haunted by the loss of life over what he viewed as a preventable situation.
“They talk about her like she was a threat to national security,” Petty argued. “She was a human being. A neighbor. Maybe a mother. Even if she was running, you don’t execute someone for fleeing a traffic stop. That ain’t the America I raced for. Where is the discipline? Where is the common sense?”
In a move that surprised political observers, Petty explicitly aligned himself with the Democratic Mayor of Minneapolis. “I stand with Mayor Frey up there,” Petty declared. “If these boys can’t tell the difference between a fleeing car and an attacking one, they don’t need to be on our streets. They aren’t keeping people safe; they’re making people scared.”
NASCAR Nation Stunned by the Pivot
The reaction to Petty’s impassioned statement was immediate and explosive. For decades, Petty has been the safe, neutral face of the sport. This raw, morally driven stance on a divisive social justice issue was a side of him that few expected to see.
Social media lit up with reactions, with the vast majority of the general public praising him, while segments of the racing community expressed shock.
“I never thought I’d see the day Richard Petty calls out law enforcement, but he’s right,” read one top comment on X (formerly Twitter). “When The King speaks, you listen. He knows vehicles better than anyone, and if he says that wasn’t self-defense, it wasn’t.”
Another commenter noted the risk Petty was taking: “Richard Petty just alienated a huge chunk of his ‘Back the Blue’ fanbase to speak the truth about an injustice. That is what real leadership looks like. Maximum respect to 43.”
While some conservative followers expressed disappointment, accusing the legend of “going woke,” the overwhelming sentiment was one of stunned respect for his integrity. In taking a firm, risky stand for the victim of the Minneapolis shooting, Richard Petty proved that even at 88, he is still unafraid to lead the pack, even if it means driving straight into a political storm.
