ICE Agent Fatally Shoots Woman in Minneapolis; Dispute Over Self-Defense Claim
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on Wednesday, sparking intense scrutiny over whether the shooting was justified self-defense or an unnecessary use of deadly force. Videos of the incident have circulated widely, with state and local officials challenging the federal government’s account of what transpired.
What Happened
According to Minneapolis police, Good was in her maroon Honda SUV and blocking a roadway when a federal law enforcement officer approached her on foot. As the vehicle began to drive off, at least two shots were fired, and the vehicle crashed on the side of the roadway. Good sustained gunshot wounds to the head and was transported to an area hospital, where she died.
The Department of Homeland Security claimed Good was “attempting to run over” ICE agents, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem characterizing her vehicle as a “deadly weapon” and the incident as an “act of domestic terrorism.” President Donald Trump and DHS officials called the agent’s actions “self-defense” and said he followed ICE training protocols.
State and Local Officials Dispute Federal Account
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz disputed the federal narrative after reviewing video of the shooting. Walz posted on social media, “Don’t believe this propaganda machine,” after viewing footage that he said seemed to contradict claims that Good was attempting to strike officers. Minneapolis police added that “there is nothing to indicate that this woman was the target of any law enforcement investigation or activity.”
Who Was Renee Good
Good was a 37-year-old mother and Minneapolis resident who graduated from Old Dominion University in Virginia in 2020 with a degree in English from the College of Arts and Letters. Governor Walz noted that Good is survived by a 6-year-old child and a wife, with two additional children residing with extended family members. The university’s president, Brian Hemphill, mourned her death as “one of our own.”
Broader Context: ICE’s Use of Force
Good’s death represents the latest fatal shooting involving ICE agents under the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement campaign. According to reporting, federal officers have fired on at least nine people in vehicles over the last four months, with authorities claiming drivers attempted to use their vehicles to strike officers. In a comparable incident in Chicago, assault charges against Marimar Martinez—who was shot five times during an immigration enforcement operation—were dropped after body camera video contradicted government accounts.
The incident occurred less than a mile from where George Floyd was killed in May 2020, and has prompted large demonstrations in the area. Governor Walz has issued a “warning order” to prepare the Minnesota National Guard, with soldiers in training and prepared to be deployed “if necessary,” while urging “peaceful resistance.”
Investigation Ongoing
The shooting remains under investigation. Community members have created fundraising efforts to support Good’s family during this period, as memorials continue to grow in south Minneapolis.
