Shooting incident details
A federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen, in her maroon Honda Pilot on Portland Avenue in South Minneapolis on January 7, 2026.
The incident occurred during a major immigration enforcement surge, described by federal officials as their largest operation to date, targeting fraud and undocumented immigrants in the area.
Video footage verified by The New York Times shows Good’s vehicle partially blocking the street; two agents approached, one attempting to open the driver’s door while yelling expletives and ordering her out. As the vehicle reversed slightly then moved forward and turned right into traffic, a third agent positioned near the front fired three shots in quick succession, striking Good; the car then crashed into parked vehicles and a light pole.
Federal vs local narratives
Federal officials, including President Trump on Truth Social and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a Texas news conference, portrayed the event as self-defense against a “violent rioter” who “weaponized her vehicle” in an act of domestic terrorism.
Noem claimed Good was stalking officers, and the agent, who was hospitalized briefly but released uninjured, used training to protect himself and colleagues after a prior ramming incident.
In stark contrast, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey labeled federal accounts “bullshit” and “garbage,” accusing the agent of reckless power use.
Governor Tim Walz called it “totally predictable and avoidable” propaganda from a “dangerous, sensationalized” operation, noting no coordination with local police and that Good was not an investigation target per Police Chief Brian O’Hara.
Eyewitness and expert analysis
Witness Connor Janeksela, 30, living nearby, described hearing horns and whistles, local signals alerting to ICE presence, before agents approached; one tried ripping open the door, another stood in front shouting “Stop!” then fired within a second.
Use-of-force expert Geoffrey Alpert deemed no imminent threat existed, citing the vehicle’s rightward turn on icy streets and “officer-created jeopardy” from escalation rather than de-escalation.
Forensics expert Jeremy Bauer noted the agent’s obscured position but highlighted multiple shots implying the car passed by, violating policies against firing at moving vehicles unless unavoidable.
Neighbor Bella Bessantez, 48, witnessed from across the street and found hope in the vigil’s unity.
Protests and community response
Thousands gathered peacefully that unusually warm January night for a vigil blocks from the 2020 George Floyd site (about a mile away), chanting “ICE Go Home,” lighting candles, singing hymns, burning sage around firepits, and building memorials with flowers, signs like “ICE in drinks, not communities!”.
A few hundred remained late, subdued but chanting against deportations; protesters later pelted departing police with snowballs yelling “ICE out now!”.
Minneapolis Public Schools canceled Thursday-Friday classes for safety; Walz activated the Emergency Operations Center, prepared National Guard deployment, urged peaceful patriotism without “taking the bait” for federal troops or Insurrection Act invocation. Representative Robin Kelly called for Noem’s impeachment; protests spread to Lower Manhattan ICE office.
Broader immigration context
This marks the ninth ICE shooting since September 2025 across five states and D.C., all vehicle-related with self-defense claims; prior cases include Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez killed near Chicago, Carlitos Ricardo Parias wounded in L.A., and Carlos Jimenez shot post-stop.
Minnesota’s focus: Somali diaspora (largest U.S. population, ~80,000 mostly citizens/residents) amid fraud probes stealing millions from social services; ~2,000 agents deployed despite Walz’s warnings.
Tensions escalated from Trump’s fraud criticisms, 2024 campaign barbs, and prior clashes; state Democrats decried “Gestapo” tactics, while DHS blamed “sanctuary politicians” fueling assaults.
Noem vowed prosecuting vehicle-blocking as terrorism; Good remembered as kind, compassionate mother by Rep. Leigh Finke and mother Donna Ganger.
Source: New York Times
Also read: US discussing acquiring Greenland, says White House
Subscribe to our Youtube channel for the latest updates.
