Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis: Renee Nicole Good Killed Amid Disputed Claims and Federal Investigation Controversy
Minneapolis mother of three shot by federal agent sparks national outrage as Trump administration’s narrative contradicts video evidence
Updated: January 9, 2026
Breaking: FBI Takes Sole Control of Investigation Amid State Pushback
MINNEAPOLIS — The fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent has sparked a national firestorm, with fierce battles erupting over the investigation itself and sharply conflicting accounts of what actually happened on a Minneapolis street Wednesday morning.
The FBI has now assumed complete control of the probe, blocking Minnesota state investigators from accessing crucial evidence—a move that Governor Tim Walz says makes a “fair outcome” nearly impossible.
What Happened: Timeline of the Fatal Encounter
On Wednesday, January 7, around 9:30 a.m., ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, as she sat in her Honda Pilot on Portland Avenue between East 33rd and 34th Streets in Minneapolis’ Central neighborhood.
The entire deadly encounter lasted less than a second, with just 399 milliseconds between the first and second shots fired, according to an ABC News frame-by-frame analysis of video footage.
The shooting occurred during what the Department of Homeland Security described as “the largest DHS operation ever,” with 2,000 federal agents deployed to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area as part of President Trump’s renewed immigration enforcement crackdown.
Two Starkly Different Stories
The Trump Administration’s Version:
- President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claim Good “violently” tried to run over federal agents
- DHS labeled her actions “domestic terrorism”
- Officials say the ICE agent was injured and hospitalized
- Trump stated Good “ran him over” and behaved “horribly”
Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis: Renee Nicole Good Killed Amid Disputed Claims and Federal Investigation Controversy
What Video Evidence Shows:
Multiple videos analyzed by news organizations tell a dramatically different story:
- Good’s vehicle was initially stopped, blocking one lane, as she allowed other cars to pass
- Federal agents approached her car and gave conflicting commands
- As Good’s Honda Pilot began moving forward, the wheels turned right—away from where agent Ross was standing
- Ross pulled his gun and fired the first shot through the windshield at 9:37:13 a.m.
- Three shots were fired in total, with mere milliseconds between each
- The officer remained upright throughout and walked away from the crashed vehicle showing no signs of injury
Who Was Renee Nicole Good?
Good was described by her mother as “one of the kindest people I’ve ever known” who was “extremely compassionate” and had “taken care of people all her life”.
The Colorado Springs native was an award-winning poet who won Old Dominion University’s Academy of American Poets Prize in 2020 for her poem “On Learning to Dissect Fetal Pigs”. She graduated with a degree in English and creative writing.
Good lived in Minneapolis with her life partner and six-year-old child. She had three children total—ages 15, 12, and six at the time of her death. Her second husband died in 2023 at age 36.
Local officials said Good was acting as a legal observer during protests against Trump’s immigration crackdown, though her mother denied she was involved with the protests.
Democratic Leaders Slam “Stone Cold Lies”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Thursday called Homeland Security Secretary Noem “a stone cold liar” for characterizing Good as a “domestic terrorist” without evidence.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was equally blunt, using an expletive to describe the administration’s self-defense claims as “bullshit” after viewing the video footage himself.
“I dropped an F-bomb. They killed somebody,” Frey said Thursday, defending his comments.
Governor Tim Walz condemned what he called a rush to judgment by federal officials who “have stood and told you things that are verifiably false, verifiably inaccurate”.
“Renee Good, Minnesotans will tell her life story,” Walz promised. “Minnesotans will be there to defend her honor and see this as a human being.”
Trump Doubles Down, Vance Attacks Media
President Trump shared slowed-down video of the incident on Truth Social and screened it for reporters in the Oval Office, claiming Good “ran him over” and that the officer was so severely injured “it is hard to believe he is alive.”
Mayor Frey disputed the injury claims, saying the agent “walked away with a hip injury that he might as well have gotten from closing a refrigerator door with his hips. He was not injured. No, he was not ran over. He walked out of there with a hop in his step”.
Vice President Vance suggested Good was “brainwashed by left-wing ideology” and attacked media coverage as lies, calling the shooting “classic terrorism.”
Vance also claimed the ICE officer is “protected by absolute immunity”—a statement Mayor Frey called “pretty bizarre,” noting “that’s not true in any law school in America, whether it’s Yale or Villanova or anywhere else”.
Investigation Controversy: State Shut Out of Probe
In an unprecedented move that has raised serious questions about transparency, the FBI reversed its initial agreement to conduct a joint investigation with Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).
BCA Superintendent Drew Evans said the U.S. Attorney’s Office reversed course and informed the agency “the BCA would no longer have access to the case materials, scene evidence or investigative interviews necessary to complete a thorough and independent investigation”.
Minnesota’s Public Safety Commissioner warned it would be “extremely difficult, if not impossible” for a local investigation to continue “without cooperation from the federal government”.
Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, accused the FBI of a coverup, while Governor Walz expressed pessimism about achieving a “fair outcome” given the federal takeover.
Federal officials maintain state investigators “just don’t have jurisdiction” since the incident involved an attack on federal law enforcement.
Nationwide Protests and Community Response
Thousands have taken to the streets across America following Good’s death:
- A vigil Wednesday night in Minneapolis drew thousands, with a makeshift memorial of candles and flowers appearing at the intersection where Good was killed
- Protesters carried signs mourning Good’s loss, with many demanding justice
- The Minnesota Timberwolves held a moment of silence before their game against Cleveland, with an image of Good’s memorial displayed on the scoreboard
- Demonstrations occurred in Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., and other major cities
Governor Walz declared Friday, January 9, a “Day of Unity” to honor Good’s memory, calling on people to observe a moment of silence at 10 a.m.
Schools Close, ICE Deploys Tear Gas at High School
Minneapolis public schools canceled classes for the rest of the week following Good’s shooting and a separate incident where ICE agents deployed tear gas at Roosevelt High School.
According to the teachers’ union, ICE agents handcuffed two staff members during the high school incident, prompting calls from state officials for federal agents to stay away from school property.
The ICE Agent: Jonathan Ross
The Minnesota Star Tribune identified the agent as Jonathan Ross, who was previously dragged by a vehicle during a June 2025 arrest attempt in Bloomington, suffering serious injuries requiring over 30 stitches. That suspect was later convicted of assault on a federal officer.
The agent has not been publicly identified by federal authorities and has not been charged.
Political Fallout and Historical Context
Hillary Clinton weighed in on the shooting, calling it “murder” and praising Minnesotans protesting the administration’s “lawless violence”.
Progressive lawmakers including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have demanded due process and a thorough investigation.
For some protesters, the tragedy evokes painful memories. “This goes back to George Floyd…and now this,” said 81-year-old veteran Tracey Bachman.
Separate Portland Shooting Raises More Questions
On Thursday, two people were hospitalized after being shot by a Border Patrol agent in Portland, Oregon, further inflaming tensions over federal immigration enforcement tactics.
What Happens Next?
Investigation Status:
- FBI has sole control, with no state involvement
- No timeline provided for completion
- No charges announced
Legal Implications:
- Good’s family may pursue civil litigation for wrongful death
- Discrepancies between official statements and video evidence could become central to any legal proceedings
Congressional Response:
- Democratic lawmakers calling for oversight hearings
- Demands for transparency and accountability
- Questions about rules of engagement for ICE agents
The Broader Questions
The fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good has exposed deep divisions over:
- Federal Immigration Enforcement: Is the Trump administration’s deployment of 2,000 agents to Minneapolis proportionate and appropriate?
- Use of Force: Under what circumstances should federal agents use deadly force against U.S. citizens?
- Government Transparency: Can investigations be impartial when the administration immediately defends the agent’s actions?
- Truth and Accountability: What happens when official government statements contradict video evidence?
As Minnesota officials emphasize, establishing the factual truth isn’t just important for Good’s family—it’s essential for the integrity of American law enforcement and democratic accountability.
Governor Walz’s promise remains: “Renee Good, Minnesotans will tell her life story. Minnesotans will be there to defend her honor and see this as a human being.”
For now, a mother of three is dead, a community is grieving, and serious questions remain about both the shooting itself and whether the truth will ever fully emerge.
Key Takeaways
✓ Renee Nicole Good, 37, mother of three and award-winning poet, was shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7, 2026
✓ Video evidence contradicts Trump administration claims that Good tried to “run over” federal agents
✓ FBI has taken sole control of investigation, blocking Minnesota state investigators from evidence
✓ Thousands protesting nationwide; Minnesota Governor declares “Day of Unity”
✓ Minneapolis schools closed; ICE deployed tear gas at high school in separate incident
✓ Political leaders sharply divided, with Democrats accusing administration of spreading “verifiable lies”
Related Stories:
- [Minneapolis ICE Operations: What You Need to Know]
- [Timeline: Frame-by-Frame Analysis of the Shooting]
- [Who Was Renee Nicole Good? A Life Remembered]
- [Federal vs. State Jurisdictions in Law Enforcement Shootings]
Stay Updated: This is a developing story. Check back for updates as the FBI investigation continues.
Last Updated: January 9, 2026, 2:00 PM EST
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