Minneapolis, Jan. 8, 2026 On the snowy morning of January 7, a U.S. agent from the agency responsible for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in the south Minneapolis neighborhood of the large city because of a massive federal enforcement effort for illegals in the country. The aftermath of the killing, which has been recorded on video, is sparking tensions in the Twin Cities.
Who Was Renee Nicole Good?
Good was a United States citizen and resident of the Twin Cities, having recently relocated to the area with her partner and children.
Family members and local officials described her as a wife, mother of three young children, and “writer-poet” with no violent criminal history. In social media profiles, she called herself a “poet and writer and wife and mom.” She had earlier majored in creative writing and vocal performance, winning a university prize in 2020.
Her mother, Donna Ganger, told the Star Tribune that Good had not been involved in protests or clashes with law enforcement and that she was “one of the kindest people I’ve ever known – compassionate, loving and devoted to helping others.” Ganger said her daughter was “probably terrified,” and that the shooting was “so stupid.”
Among Good’s children is a young son with her late husband, who died in 2023, and older children from a previous marriage.
How the Shooting Unfolded
According to verified footage from a news organization, federal agents approached the SUV of the good Samaritan who was parked sideways in the residential street of Portland Avenue as a result of the ICE enforcement operation.
Witness video shows:
• Agents ordering Good to exit the vehicle,
• One agent pulling at the car door,
• The car starting to move
• Another ICE agent shoots at least two rounds into the SUV from a short distance.
Good was struck and later declared dead at a hospital after she was shot in the head while she was in the driver’s seat.
Conflicting Accounts: Federal vs. Local Officials
Then, the Department of Homeland Security and ICE issued statements saying that the officer responded in self-defense because Good “weaponized her vehicle” by trying to ram agents. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin characterized the shooting as one that was needed because of an imminent threat and labeled the incident “an act of domestic terrorism.”
However, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and the Minneapolis Police Chief strongly contradicted that narrative after reviewing video evidence. Frey called the federal account “bullshit,” described the officer’s actions as reckless and unjustified, and told ICE to leave the city. Walz described the shooting as “predictable” and “avoidable.” Minnesota officials also underscored that Good was not a target of any arrest operation at the time.
City Council members put out a joint statement calling Good “a resident out caring for her neighbors,” not a threat. Senator Tina Smith described her as “a U.S. citizen, a mother, and a Twin Cities resident.”
Community Reaction and Broader Context
The shooting has led to widespread outrage and demonstrations in Minneapolis. Large groups have congregated at the site, protesting and calling for action, while local leaders have condemned the federal raid operation in response to distrust of ICE’s presence in Minneapolis.
This arises against the backdrop of a large immigration enforcement surge, including the deployment of federal agents to the area, which has already increased tensions, particularly in the immigrant and Somali community.
On the national level, the incident has focused national attention on police use-of-force policies regarding moving vehicles and reopened the debate over the function of federally-run agencies within local communities.
Investigation Underway
Now, federal and state authorities investigate the shooting. The FBI has been involved in the investigation process, and the local authorities have showed that charges and accountability for the use of force will be examined as part of the inquiry.