A tense scene erupted on a Minneapolis street Wednesday afternoon when Renee Nicole Good, 37, was shot by ICE agent Jonathan “Jon” Ross.
New surveillance footage sheds light on the moments leading up to the shooting, revealing a chaotic interaction that ended in tragedy.
The Moments Before the Shooting
Video shows Good’s maroon Honda Pilot pausing on the street for several minutes.
About 20 seconds after stopping, a passenger, believed to be her wife Rebecca Good, exited the car and began filming the scene.
Renee then maneuvered her SUV in a way that appeared to partially block traffic, although other vehicles were still able to pass.
Federal agent Jon Ross quickly arrived at the scene, joined by other officers, surrounding Good’s vehicle. According to reports, an agent reached for the car door, instructing her to step out.
In response, Good moved the SUV forward, prompting Ross to fire three shots at her in rapid succession.
The footage ends before showing the aftermath, during which Good lost control of the car and crashed.
Rebecca Good’s Role and Perspective
Rebecca Good has admitted she encouraged her spouse to confront the agents at the anti-ICE protest.
Harrowing video captures her saying, “I made her come down here, it’s my fault,” as she documented the incident on camera.
Witnesses described both Renee and Rebecca as acting as legal observers, filming the protest for accountability.
Speculation has surrounded Rebecca’s motives, with some suggesting she intended to capture potential confrontations on video.
However, the exact moment she began recording remains unclear.
Community Ties and Activism
Renee Good was involved with a local network of activists connected to her six-year-old son’s charter school.
Friends describe her as a passionate advocate for social justice, participating in groups like “ICE Watch,” which monitor and attempt to disrupt ICE operations.
“She was a warrior. She died doing what was right,” said Leesa, a fellow parent at Southside Family Charter School.
The school itself promotes a “social justice first” curriculum, encouraging students to engage in political and social activism.
Renee and Rebecca moved to Minneapolis last year after briefly relocating to Canada following Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory.
Conflicting Accounts from Family
Renee’s mother, Donna Ganger, strongly disputes claims that her daughter actively participated in anti-ICE protests.
“That’s so stupid. Renee was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known,” she told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. She described her daughter as loving, compassionate, and likely terrified during the encounter.
Renee was a registered voter, but her political affiliations are not publicly documented. Similarly, there are no public records on Rebecca’s voting history.
Officer Ross’s Background and Controversy
Jon Ross, the ICE officer involved, is considered experienced but has a controversial history.
Last year, he suffered severe injuries after being dragged by a vehicle during an arrest in Bloomington, Minnesota.
According to an FBI agent, the June incident resulted in 20 stitches for a serious arm injury.
The agent, speaking anonymously, questioned the justification for the shooting: “Shot one might be arguable, but shots two and three cannot be argued.”
National Debate and Political Reactions
The Minneapolis shooting has sparked national debate.
The Trump administration, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Vice President JD Vance have described the shooting as self-defense, portraying Good as using her car as a weapon.
Vance suggested her death was partly a consequence of her political ideology.
Local officials and protesters strongly reject that framing. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey dismissed self-defense claims, calling them “garbage” in response to the video footage.
A Community Shaken
The incident has left families, friends, and the broader Minneapolis community grappling with conflicting narratives.
Renee Good’s life, activism, and the tragic circumstances of her death have fueled debates over law enforcement conduct, protest participation, and political polarization in the U.S.
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