The killing of Renee Nicole Good during an immigration enforcement operation has placed Minneapolis at the center of a national reckoning over the use of force by federal agents. The Minneapolis shooting, which authorities say involved an ICE officer acting in self-defense, has ignited outrage among city leaders, activists, and residents who are demanding accountability and clarity about what happened.
As more video footage and witness accounts emerge, the shooting has become a flashpoint in an already tense debate over immigration enforcement. While federal officials insist the officer feared for his life, local and state leaders dispute that narrative, saying the facts remain unresolved and the loss of life unjustified.
Who Was Renee Nicole Good?
Renee Nicole Good, the woman shot & killed by an ICE agent, had a young son whose father died in 2023, according to the Star Tribune
“There’s nobody else in his life,” the boy’s grandfather said. “I’ll drive. I’ll fly. To come get my grandchild.
— philip lewis
Renee Nicole Good was a mother, wife, writer, and longtime Minneapolis resident remembered by family and friends as deeply compassionate. While speaking to the media, her mother, Donna Ganger, described her daughter as “one of the kindest people I’ve ever known.”
“She was extremely compassionate,” Ganger said. “She’s taken care of people all her life. She was loving, forgiving, and affectionate. She was an amazing human being.”
The Minneapolis City Council echoed that sentiment in a joint statement, saying Renee Nicole Good was out “caring for her neighbors” when the ICE shooting occurred. U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., called Good “a U.S. citizen, a mother, and a Twin Cities resident,” adding that she was both “heartbroken and angry” over the killing.
What Happened During the Minneapolis Shooting?
The shooting took place Wednesday during an immigration-related operation conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis. According to the Department of Homeland Security, tensions escalated when individuals began blocking federal officers.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said Renee Nicole Good was shot after she allegedly ignored commands to exit the vehicle she was driving. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem later claimed Good attempted to run over an ICE officer, describing the incident as an “attempt to kill or cause bodily harm to agents.”
Noem said the officer was struck by the vehicle and later treated at a hospital before being released. However, she declined to clarify whether the officer fired before or after being hit, stating that the matter is under investigation.
Video Footage Raises New Questions
I have made a frame by frame analysis of the recent ICE Involved shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. Due to twitter/x’s limits I have had to split it into multiple videos. Youtube link in the comments.
— Notelu
Video obtained shows officers surrounding an SUV in a residential Minneapolis neighborhood. One officer appears to attempt to open the driver’s side door before the vehicle reverses briefly and then moves forward. Gunshots can be heard moments later, and the SUV crashes into a parked car.
The footage does not show the moments leading up to the confrontation, leaving critical questions unanswered about the ICE shooting. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he had reviewed video of the incident and warned the public against accepting what he called a federal “propaganda machine.”
Investigations Underway
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey bluntly rejects the Trump administration’s claim that the fatal ICE shooting was self-defence. After reviewing what the city has seen, he says the federal version does not add up and tells ICE to get the f*ck out of Minneapolis. The woman killed was…
— Mojo Story
The FBI and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are jointly investigating the Minneapolis shooting. Federal officials say the inquiry will determine whether the use of lethal force was justified.
Local leaders, however, have expressed skepticism. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he was “deeply sorry” to Good’s family, adding that “there are no words that can make this moment better.”
State Rep. Leigh Finke described Good as a cherished Minnesotan whose death has left a lasting wound on the community.
Was Renee Nicole Good Involved in Protests?
Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding why Renee Nicole Good was present during the immigration enforcement action. Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar described her as a “legal observer,” a role often used to monitor law enforcement activity.
Good’s mother strongly disputed claims that her daughter was part of any organized protest. She told the press that Good was likely frightened and not obstructing ICE agents. The Minneapolis City Council said she was simply caring for neighbors at the time of the ICE shooting.
Vigils and Public Response
HAPPENING NOW: Impromptu march erupts in Minneapolis for Renee Nicole Good, killed by ICE
— BreakThrough News
Within hours of the shooting, hundreds of people gathered near the site, lighting candles and chanting, “Say her name! Renee, Good!” By Wednesday night, nearly 1,000 people attended a vigil in freezing temperatures to honor Renee Nicole Good.
Minnesota State Rep. Aisha Gomez called the death a “profound tragedy,” while community organizers said residents would continue gathering for as long as needed to grieve and demand answers.
A Life Beyond the Final Moments
Renee Nicole Good graduated from Old Dominion University in 2020 with a degree in English. University President Brian Hemphill called her killing “yet another clear example that fear and violence have sadly become commonplace in our nation.”
Good was also the mother of a 6-year-old child and lived with her partner in Minneapolis. A GoFundMe created to support her family describes her as “pure sunshine, pure love.”
On Instagram, Good described herself as a poet, writer, wife, and mom “experiencing Minneapolis.” As the investigations continue, many say it is essential to remember her not for the ICE shooting that ended her life, but for the compassion and care she brought to others.
Featured image: ODU English Department/Facebook
