Renee Nicole Good A Victim in Minneapolis ICE Cold Blood Murder Shooting Identified as Community Seeks Answers
Minneapolis [IFS] -- A fatal shooting involving a federal immigration agent during a chaotic protest in south Minneapolis has intensified scrutiny of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and the growing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement nationwide.
The woman killed Wednesday was identified by her mother as Renee Nicole Good, 37, a Twin Cities resident, poet, and mother. Good was shot by an ICE agent during a confrontation that unfolded amid protests targeting federal law enforcement activity in the neighborhood—less than a mile from the intersection where George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer in May 2020.
What Authorities Say Happened
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, speaking at a Wednesday evening press conference, said Good had been “stalking and impeding” ICE agents throughout the day as they carried out what she described as “lawful operations.” According to federal officials, the confrontation escalated when Good allegedly attempted to ram an ICE agent with her vehicle. The agent fired his weapon, striking Good. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
President Donald Trump later weighed in on social media, stating that he had reviewed video of the incident and claimed the agent acted in self-defense after being “violently” struck. The officer, Trump said, was hospitalized and is recovering.
Federal authorities have not yet released the video publicly, and the shooting remains under investigation.
Family and Community Dispute Official Narrative
Good’s family strongly disputes the characterization of her as an aggressor or organized protester. Her mother, Donna Ganger, told the Minnesota Star Tribune that her daughter was not affiliated with protest groups and was “probably terrified” in the moments leading up to her death.
“That’s so stupid,” Ganger said when told of the allegations against her daughter. “She was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known. Extremely compassionate. She took care of people all her life.”
Several Minneapolis City Council members confirmed in a joint statement that Good lived in the city with her partner. Friends and acquaintances described her on social media as warm, generous, and deeply devoted to her family. An Instagram account believed to belong to Good described her as a “poet and writer and wife and mom … experiencing Minneapolis.”
One acquaintance, Megan Kocher, wrote that she had recently visited Good at her home, describing her as “such a warm and loving mother” and calling the shooting “tragic beyond words.”
A Child Left Behind
Good had previously been married to Timmy Ray Macklin Jr., who died in 2023 at age 36. The couple shared a child, now six years old. Macklin’s father, Timmy Ray Macklin Sr., said he was stunned by the news and is now focused on ensuring the child is cared for.
“There’s nobody else in his life,” he said. “I’ll drive. I’ll fly. To come and get my grandchild.”
Protests, Policing, and a Familiar Geography
The shooting occurred in a city still grappling with the legacy of George Floyd’s death and the nationwide protests that followed. In recent years, Minneapolis has remained a focal point for debates over policing, federal law enforcement presence, and protest response tactics.
Immigration enforcement actions, particularly when conducted with visible federal agents, have increasingly drawn protests across the country. Advocates argue such operations intimidate immigrant communities and escalate tensions, while federal officials maintain they are enforcing existing law.
As candles and flowers appeared along Portland Avenue where Good was killed, community members gathered to pray and demand transparency. Many are calling for the release of all body camera and surveillance footage, as well as an independent investigation into the shooting.
For now, Renee Nicole Good’s death sits at the intersection of grief, protest, and an unresolved national argument over law enforcement power—an argument that, once again in Minneapolis, has turned deadly.
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