Was ICE Officer Jonathan Ross justified in fatally shooting Renée Good?
ICE officer Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renée Good, a U.S. citizen, in Minneapolis. DHS says she used her car as a weapon; Minneapolis and Minnesota officials say video shows no threat and call the self-defense account false.
BackgroundWhen can federal immigration agents use deadly force?
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
This case classifies responses to whether ICE officer Jonathan Ross was justified in fatally shooting Renée Good on January 7, 2026, during a federal immigration operation in south Minneapolis. Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, was in her SUV when agents approached; DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said Ross fired in self-defense after Good used the vehicle as a weapon against agents. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz rejected that account, saying video of the encounter showed Good posed no threat. Frey called the shooting a reckless use of federal power, and Walz blamed her death on the recklessness of the heightened ICE operations in the Twin Cities. The FBI removed the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension from the joint investigation the day after the shooting, and the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division declined to open its own investigation, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche saying the department was not investigating because circulating video already showed the officer being attacked by the vehicle. Good's death predates and is a separate incident from the later fatal shooting of Alex Pretti during the same Minneapolis operation. As of September 2026, no public charges had been filed against Ross.
Background: When can federal immigration agents use deadly force?
Timeline
8 timeline entries on this page. Dates: January 7, 2026 to October 1, 2026
January 2026
ICE officer fatally shoots Renée Good in south Minneapolis
Incident
During a federal immigration operation in south Minneapolis, ICE officer Jonathan Ross fired three shots at Renée Good's SUV as it turned away from him near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue. Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, drove several blocks before crashing and was pronounced dead at a hospital.
[01]MPR News
Source excerpt
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the agent's actions were "justified" and that he "followed his training," describing the crowd as "a mob of agitators." Mayor Jacob Frey called the self-defense account "garbage" and "bullshit." Gov. Tim Walz said he had "seen the video" and called ICE's account "propaganda," calling the shooting "predictable and avoidable." Witness Betsy said the woman "posed absolutely no threat to any of these agents."
Breaking-news account of the Jan. 7, 2026 shooting including eyewitness testimony and same-day statements from ICE, DHS Secretary Noem, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Shooting in south Minneapolis during ICE agents' federal operation · MPR NewsMPR News, Jan. 7, 2026[02]CBS News
Source excerpt
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the woman "weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers." President Trump said on Truth Social that she "viciously ran over the ICE Officer." The shooter was identified as Jonathan Ross, a member of ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations Special Response Team who had worked with ICE in Minnesota since at least 2017.
CBS News Minnesota explainer identifying the ICE officer who fired the shots and summarizing the competing federal and local accounts.
What we know about the fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis · CBS NewsCBS News Minnesota, "What we know about the fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis"DHS says the agent acted in self-defense
Reaction
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said Ross's actions were justified and that Good had used her vehicle as a weapon against agents. A DHS spokesperson separately said Good had weaponized her vehicle in an attempt to run over law enforcement officers.
[01]MPR News
Source excerpt
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the agent's actions were "justified" and that he "followed his training," describing the crowd as "a mob of agitators." Mayor Jacob Frey called the self-defense account "garbage" and "bullshit." Gov. Tim Walz said he had "seen the video" and called ICE's account "propaganda," calling the shooting "predictable and avoidable." Witness Betsy said the woman "posed absolutely no threat to any of these agents."
Breaking-news account of the Jan. 7, 2026 shooting including eyewitness testimony and same-day statements from ICE, DHS Secretary Noem, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Shooting in south Minneapolis during ICE agents' federal operation · MPR NewsMPR News, Jan. 7, 2026[02]CBS News
Source excerpt
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the woman "weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers." President Trump said on Truth Social that she "viciously ran over the ICE Officer." The shooter was identified as Jonathan Ross, a member of ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations Special Response Team who had worked with ICE in Minnesota since at least 2017.
CBS News Minnesota explainer identifying the ICE officer who fired the shots and summarizing the competing federal and local accounts.
What we know about the fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis · CBS NewsCBS News Minnesota, "What we know about the fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis"Minneapolis disputes the self-defense account
Reaction
Mayor Jacob Frey and the City of Minneapolis disputed DHS's account of the shooting, calling it a case of a federal agent recklessly using deadly force. The city expressed condolences to Good's family.
[03]City of Minneapolis
Source excerpt
"We've dreaded this moment since the early stages of this ICE presence" ... "This was a federal agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying." ... "To the family of the person who was killed — we are deeply sorry."
Official City of Minneapolis statement issued the day of the shooting, quoting Mayor Jacob Frey's response to the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue by a federal immigration agent.
Minneapolis responds to fatal shooting of woman by federal agent · City of MinneapolisCity of Minneapolis news release, Jan. 7, 2026[01]MPR News
Source excerpt
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the agent's actions were "justified" and that he "followed his training," describing the crowd as "a mob of agitators." Mayor Jacob Frey called the self-defense account "garbage" and "bullshit." Gov. Tim Walz said he had "seen the video" and called ICE's account "propaganda," calling the shooting "predictable and avoidable." Witness Betsy said the woman "posed absolutely no threat to any of these agents."
Breaking-news account of the Jan. 7, 2026 shooting including eyewitness testimony and same-day statements from ICE, DHS Secretary Noem, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Shooting in south Minneapolis during ICE agents' federal operation · MPR NewsMPR News, Jan. 7, 2026Minnesota BCA removed from the federal shooting investigation
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was removed from the joint investigation into the shooting, leaving federal authorities to investigate their own agent's use of force. Minneapolis officials called for a transparent process that included state investigators.
[04]City of Minneapolis
Source excerpt
"We are concerned that the investigation is proceeding without state partners, and we are calling for a clear and transparent process that includes state investigating agencies." — Commissioner Todd Barnette, Minneapolis Office of Community Safety
Official city statement after the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was removed from the federal investigation into the shooting, one day after Renée Good's death.
Minneapolis responds to BCA being removed from federal shooting investigation · City of MinneapolisCity of Minneapolis news release, Jan. 8, 2026Good's wife releases a statement about the shooting
Reaction
Becca Good, Renée Good's wife, released a statement describing her wife as kind and "made of sunshine," said Good left behind three children including a six-year-old, and described the moment of the encounter with agents: "We had whistles. They had guns."
[05]MPR News
Source excerpt
Becca Good, Renée's wife, said kindness "radiated" out of her and that she was "made of sunshine." She said Renée leaves "three extraordinary children; the youngest is just six years old and already lost his father." Of the encounter with agents: "We had whistles. They had guns."
Statement released two days after the shooting by Renée Good's wife, Becca Good, describing their family and the moment of the shooting.
Renee Macklin Good's wife releases statement about ICE shooting · MPR NewsMPR News, Jan. 9, 2026DOJ declines to open its own investigation into the shooting
Claim
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department would not open a criminal investigation into Ross, saying officials do not investigate every time an officer is forced to defend himself and that it was "not now" a time for investigation.
[06]Al Jazeera
Source excerpt
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said, "We don't just go out and investigate every time an officer is forced to defend himself," adding it was "not now" a time for investigation, and noted the footage had already been "reviewed by millions and millions of Americans because it was recorded on phones."
Reports the Justice Department's Jan. 19, 2026 decision not to open a federal criminal investigation into the shooting, quoting Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
DOJ says won't investigate ICE agent's fatal shooting of Renee Good · Al JazeeraAl Jazeera, Jan. 19, 2026
September 2026
Renée Good’s mother calls for accountability at a public forum
Reaction
At a September 22 public forum, Donna Ganger, Renée Good’s mother, said she had voted for President Trump believing federal immigration officers would protect Americans. She said people determined to disregard constitutional rules and values could not be prevented from doing so and called for accountability and change. Her remarks are an attributed family reaction and do not independently resolve the disputed facts of the shooting.
[07]Renée Good's mother tells hearing she voted for Trump expecting protection
Source excerpt
“But no one can protect against others who are determined to disregard our country’s constitutional rules and values.”
USA TODAY video of Donna Ganger speaking at a September 22 public forum hosted by Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Robert Garcia. The video records her personal reaction and call for accountability; it does not independently resolve the disputed facts of the shooting.
Renée Good's mother tells hearing she voted for Trump expecting protection0:00 to 4:56: Donna Ganger's remarks at the September 22 public forum
October 2026
Good family files civil lawsuits against the United States and federal officials
Romanucci & Blandin announced that the Good family filed two complaints in federal court in Minnesota on October 1. One names the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The other names Jonathan Ross and senior federal officials, alleging a civil-rights conspiracy and excessive force. Brent Ganger, as trustee for Good's next of kin, and Becca Good are the plaintiffs. The complaints seek damages over her January 7 death.
[08]Good family lawyers announce two civil lawsuits over her death
The family's law firm announces two complaints in federal court in Minnesota, naming Brent Ganger as trustee and Becca Good as plaintiffs. The release describes the plaintiffs' allegations and requested remedies.
Good family lawyers announce two civil lawsuits over her deathParagraph beginning 'Two civil lawsuits were filed on October 1, 2026' and 'Complaint Details', items 1 and 2
Response record
Responses
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(15)
Reporting
Shooting in south Minneapolis during ICE agents' federal operation
Relevant passage: MPR News, Jan. 7, 2026
Excerpt
"DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the agent's actions were "justified" and that he "followed his training," describing the crowd as "a mob of agitators." Mayor Jacob Frey called the self-defense account "garbage" and "bullshit." Gov. Tim Walz said he had "seen the video" and called ICE's account "propaganda," calling the shooting "predictable and avoidable." Witness Betsy said the woman "posed absolutely no threat to any of these agents.""
About this source
Breaking-news account of the Jan. 7, 2026 shooting including eyewitness testimony and same-day statements from ICE, DHS Secretary Noem, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Green Party governor candidate wants to abolish ICE, slams Klobuchar over Gaza
About this source
Alpha News profile of Steven Young's campaign. It reports, citing his August interview with The North Star Independent, that he left his corporate law job when Operation Metro Surge began and was in the crowd that confronted ICE agents on the day Renee Good was killed.
- Author
- Luke Sprinkel, Alpha News
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Steven Young on X: he saw police hold the perimeter for ICE the day Renee Good was killed
About this source
Post by Steven Young, then the Green Party's candidate for Minnesota governor, quoting a post that shared a report on Minneapolis police records from the federal shootings of Renee Good, Julio Sosa-Celis and Alex Pretti.
- Author
- Steven Young (@steveformn)
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Emma Vigeland's X post on the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti
About this source
Emma Vigeland posted this on X on July 16, 2026, linking a report by The Intercept on ICE body cameras.
- Author
- Emma Vigeland
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Good family lawyers announce two civil lawsuits over her death
Relevant passage: Paragraph beginning 'Two civil lawsuits were filed on October 1, 2026' and 'Complaint Details', items 1 and 2
About this source
The family's law firm announces two complaints in federal court in Minnesota, naming Brent Ganger as trustee and Becca Good as plaintiffs. The release describes the plaintiffs' allegations and requested remedies.
- Author
- Romanucci & Blandin
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
ACLU and ACLU of Minnesota Demand Immediate Action After ICE Shoots and Kills Minnesota Woman
Relevant passage: Opening paragraph of the press release, after the Minneapolis dateline
Excerpt
"The ACLU and ACLU of Minnesota strongly condemn this killing, and urge federal agents to withdraw from Minnesota as soon as possible and to halt these massive escalations across the country immediately."
About this source
Joint press release from the ACLU and ACLU of Minnesota, published January 7, 2026, the day of the shooting.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
D.C. Memo: ICE shooting roils D.C. – and prompts Craig-Emmer spat
Relevant passage: Section on House Homeland Security Committee Democrats' demand for a Noem hearing
Excerpt
"Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the top Democrat on the committee, sent the chairman of the panel, Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., a letter on Thursday demanding a hearing."
About this source
MinnPost's Washington newsletter reporting on congressional reactions to the Good shooting, including Noem's account of the shooting and Chairman Garbarino's response to the hearing request.
- Author
- Ana Radelat
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Ranking Member Thompson, Committee Dems Demand Hearing with Kristi Noem on ICE Killing U.S. Citizen in Minneapolis
Relevant passage: Committee Democrats' post dated January 8, 2026; letter text, second paragraph
Excerpt
"Contrary to Secretary Noem’s press statements, there has been no evidence shared that would justify Ms. Good’s killing. The perpetrator must be held accountable,"
About this source
Post by the House Homeland Security Committee Democrats reproducing the January 8, 2026 letter from Ranking Member Bennie Thompson and other committee Democrats to Chairman Andrew Garbarino, which asks for a hearing with Secretary Kristi Noem.
- Published
- Accessed
Archived source
Transcript of January 8 White House press briefing with JD Vance
Relevant passage: Question-and-answer exchange on Renee Good, paragraphs beginning “Well, being part of the network” through “Next question”
Excerpt
"The reason this woman is dead is because she tried to ram somebody with her car and that guy acted in self-defense."
About this source
The transcript records Vance's extended defense of the ICE officer and his response to questions about prejudging the investigation.
- Author
- The American Presidency Project
- Published
- Accessed
Original video
Renée Good's mother tells hearing she voted for Trump expecting protection
Donna Ganger, the mother of Renee Good, speaks at a forum held by congressional Democrats on deaths involving federal immigration agents, Sept. 22, 2026.
Three excerpts joined by a one-second black gap: 41:46 to 42:01, 44:50 to 45:35, and 45:56 to 46:10 of the Oversight Committee Democrats video. Cut from the House Oversight Committee Democrats' own recording of the forum. The USA TODAY YouTube clip cited for this source shows the same remarks. DI added its logo in the corner.
Video: House Oversight Committee Democrats. Public domain (U.S. government work) (opens in a new tab)
Watch the full original video (opens in a new tab) (relevant passage: 0:00 to 4:56: Donna Ganger's remarks at the September 22 public forum)
Excerpt
"“But no one can protect against others who are determined to disregard our country’s constitutional rules and values.”"
About this source
USA TODAY video of Donna Ganger speaking at a September 22 public forum hosted by Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Robert Garcia. The video records her personal reaction and call for accountability; it does not independently resolve the disputed facts of the shooting.
- Author
- USA TODAY
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
DOJ says won't investigate ICE agent's fatal shooting of Renee Good
Relevant passage: Al Jazeera, Jan. 19, 2026
Excerpt
"Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said, "We don't just go out and investigate every time an officer is forced to defend himself," adding it was "not now" a time for investigation, and noted the footage had already been "reviewed by millions and millions of Americans because it was recorded on phones.""
About this source
Reports the Justice Department's Jan. 19, 2026 decision not to open a federal criminal investigation into the shooting, quoting Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
What we know about the fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis
Relevant passage: CBS News Minnesota, "What we know about the fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis"
Excerpt
"DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the woman "weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers." President Trump said on Truth Social that she "viciously ran over the ICE Officer." The shooter was identified as Jonathan Ross, a member of ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations Special Response Team who had worked with ICE in Minnesota since at least 2017."
About this source
CBS News Minnesota explainer identifying the ICE officer who fired the shots and summarizing the competing federal and local accounts.
- Accessed
Reporting
Renee Macklin Good's wife releases statement about ICE shooting
Relevant passage: MPR News, Jan. 9, 2026
Excerpt
"Becca Good, Renée's wife, said kindness "radiated" out of her and that she was "made of sunshine." She said Renée leaves "three extraordinary children; the youngest is just six years old and already lost his father." Of the encounter with agents: "We had whistles. They had guns.""
About this source
Statement released two days after the shooting by Renée Good's wife, Becca Good, describing their family and the moment of the shooting.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Minneapolis responds to BCA being removed from federal shooting investigation
Relevant passage: City of Minneapolis news release, Jan. 8, 2026
Excerpt
""We are concerned that the investigation is proceeding without state partners, and we are calling for a clear and transparent process that includes state investigating agencies." — Commissioner Todd Barnette, Minneapolis Office of Community Safety"
About this source
Official city statement after the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was removed from the federal investigation into the shooting, one day after Renée Good's death.
- Author
- City of Minneapolis
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Minneapolis responds to fatal shooting of woman by federal agent
Relevant passage: City of Minneapolis news release, Jan. 7, 2026
Excerpt
""We've dreaded this moment since the early stages of this ICE presence" ... "This was a federal agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying." ... "To the family of the person who was killed — we are deeply sorry.""
About this source
Official City of Minneapolis statement issued the day of the shooting, quoting Mayor Jacob Frey's response to the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue by a federal immigration agent.
- Author
- City of Minneapolis
- Published
- Accessed
Corrections
(1)
Corrections address errors in our reporting or labels. When a speaker changes their position, we add a separate statement and link it to the earlier one.
Reporting correction
Correction to: Statement by Tim Walz
- Previous language
- Governor Tim Walz said the agent's recklessness cost Renée Good her life, rejecting DHS's characterization of the shooting as self-defense.
- Corrected language
- Governor Tim Walz said he and others had been warning that the heightened ICE operations in the Twin Cities were a danger to public safety, and that the recklessness of those operations cost Renée Good her life. Earlier that day, he disputed ICE's account that the agent fired in self-defense.
An earlier version of this entry said Walz blamed Renée Good's death on the agent's recklessness. In the cited remarks, Walz was describing the recklessness of the heightened ICE operations in the Twin Cities, not the individual agent. We corrected the summary, title, context and label explanation, and clarified the matching line in the case overview.
This corrects our account of what happened.
Breaking-news account of the Jan. 7, 2026 shooting including eyewitness testimony and same-day statements from ICE, DHS Secretary Noem, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
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- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Was ICE Officer Jonathan Ross justified in fatally shooting Renée Good?
- First published
- Last updated
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The Dispute Index. "Was ICE Officer Jonathan Ross justified in fatally shooting Renée Good?". First published: 2026-09-24. Last updated: 2026-10-06. https://disputeindex.com/cases/was-ice-officer-jonathan-ross-justified-in-fatally-shooting-rene-e-good