The family of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, has accused federal immigration officers of killing her in Minneapolis as she attempted to comply with their instructions. They have hired the same law firm that represented George Floyd's family, Romanucci & Blandin, to seek answers and accountability regarding her death. The firm has stated that they are investigating the circumstances surrounding Good’s shooting and will provide updates in the forthcoming weeks.
Good's family has expressed a desire for her to be remembered as "an agent of peace" and has urged the public to refrain from using her death as a political tool. This appeal comes in the context of a recent decision by the U.S. Justice Department, which announced that it sees no basis for opening a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting. An ongoing FBI investigation into Good's death is still being conducted.
In the wake of this incident, around six federal prosecutors in Minnesota have resigned, along with several supervisors within the criminal section of the Civil Rights Division in Washington, suggesting a significant shake-up within the department. The actions of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer involved in Good's shooting have been defended by the Trump administration, which has claimed that the officer acted in self-defense when he fired at Good's vehicle as it began to move forward. This justification has been criticized by several public officials, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who have pointed to video footage of the encounter as contrary to the officer's account.
Romanucci & Blandin has stated that Good’s family is seeking clarity on what led federal officers to be in the neighborhood where she was killed on January 7, as well as a thorough examination of the officers' actions during the encounter and the delays in providing medical assistance after the shooting. The ICE agent who discharged his weapon, identified as Jonathan Ross, is a veteran of the Iraq War and has served as a deportation officer since 2015.
On the day of the incident, Renee Good and her partner, Becca Good, had just dropped their 6-year-old child at school and had stopped to observe ongoing law enforcement activity. Video footage shows Renee in her red SUV, which was positioned perpendicular and obstructing part of the road, honking the horn repeatedly. Shortly thereafter, a truck carrying immigration officers arrived, prompting one agent to order Renee to open her car door. As she briefly reversed and then turned the steering wheel toward the passenger side, Becca shouted for her to drive. Gunshots rang out as officers opened fire while standing in front of the vehicle.
Good's family has expressed their belief that what happened to her was unjust, and the law firm representing them intends to share findings "on a rolling basis" due to concerns regarding the adequacy of information available to the community. This firm also previously secured a significant settlement for the Floyd family, indicating their commitment to achieving justice for those they represent. Becca Good has publicly articulated the disparity in power during the confrontation, stating, "We had whistles. They had guns." Although Becca has referred to Renee as her wife, the law firm clarified that they were not legally married but were committed partners.
