Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother from Minneapolis, was shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent early Wednesday near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue. Her death has sent shockwaves through the city and ignited public outcry and protests. Good, who was not part of the federal operation, died after being struck by gunfire while inside her vehicle during an expansive immigration enforcement action.
That morning, federal agents with ICE were carrying out what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described as a major immigration enforcement push in south Minneapolis. Witnesses said agents surrounded Good’s vehicle, a red Honda SUV, which was stopped in the street. Video recordings from bystanders show conflicting commands being given to her from different agents moments before shots were fired.
According to DHS officials, the ICE agent who fired the shots claimed he acted in self-defense, asserting Good attempted to drive her SUV at officers. Federal authorities labeled her actions as “an act of domestic terrorism,” a characterization that has been sharply challenged by local leaders and on-scene videos.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz immediately disputed the federal narrative. Frey, after watching video footage himself, said the accounts of self-defense do not align with what is seen on the recordings and demanded ICE leave the city. Walz called the fatal shooting “the consequences of governance designed to generate fear” and said state officials were preparing to support peaceful protests in response.
Good’s mother, Donna Ganger, spoke through local media, describing her daughter as a kind and compassionate person who was not involved in any organized protests or anti-ICE actions that day. She said Good’s death “was so stupid” and that her daughter was “probably terrified” at the time. Friends and relatives echoed this sentiment, painting a picture of a devoted parent and a gentle soul whose life was cut short unexpectedly.
As news of the shooting spread, crowds gathered near the intersection where the incident happened. Hundreds of residents and activists held vigils and protested the killing, demanding accountability and transparency from federal authorities. Law enforcement at times used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse groups, adding to the tension surrounding the event.
Investigations into the shooting are now underway by both the FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, with local police also involved. Officials say they will review body camera footage and all available evidence to determine the sequence of events that led to Good’s death. Meanwhile, community leaders have called for calm, emphasizing the need for peaceful demonstration as the city grapples with grief and anger.