MINNEAPOLIS – Authorities in Minnesota have publicly requested additional recordings and related materials from the community to aid investigations into the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. This appeal follows the emergence of new video footage depicting the final interactions between Good and ICE Officer Jonathan Ross.
Last Wednesday's incident in Minneapolis, combined with a subsequent episode involving Border Patrol in Portland, Oregon, has ignited protests across several U.S. cities and intensified criticism of federal immigration enforcement strategies. The Trump administration has defended Officer Ross's actions, citing self-defense and protection of fellow agents.
A 47-second clip surfaced online via Alpha News, a Minnesota-based conservative news outlet, and later shared by the Department of Homeland Security on social media platforms. The video provides a unique perspective from the ICE officer's vantage point during the incident.
In the footage, the clamorous background of sirens accompanies Officer Ross as he approaches and circles around Good’s vehicle, apparently capturing the encounter on his cellphone. Concurrently, Good’s wife is seen traversing around the vehicle, also recording the event. Exchanges between the parties occur amidst these recordings.
Good’s wife is heard voicing defiance, identifying her spouse as a U.S. citizen and former veteran while challenging the enforcement officers. Officers approach from the driver’s side, commanding Good to exit the car. Ross positions himself near the front driver side of the car as Good initially reverses and then turns sharply toward the passenger side while accelerating. At that moment, Ross opens fire.
The video becomes unsteady, briefly showing the sky before returning to footage of the vehicle careening and crashing into parked cars. A voice on scene expresses strong disapproval shortly after the collision. The scene captures the chaotic dynamics at play during such enforcement encounters.
Federal protocols encourage officers to document their interactions when individuals interfere with enforcement actions. However, experts caution that managing handheld recording devices during confrontations can complicate split-second decision-making by diverting attention and occupying an officer’s hands. ICE policy mandates the activation of body-worn cameras throughout enforcement activities, with footage preservation required in critical incidents such as deaths or use-of-force occurrences. The Department of Homeland Security has not yet clarified if body cameras were in use during this incident.
Officials from Homeland Security, including Vice President JD Vance and spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, asserted through social media that the footage supports claims of the officer acting in self-defense. Conversely, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has openly rejected the self-defense justification.
Policing scholars reviewing the video highlighted concerns surrounding the officer’s simultaneous use of a firearm and cellphone, questioning the adequacy of training permitting such conduct. The video further implies the officers did not perceive Good as an immediate threat prior to the shooting.
Ross, 43, is an Iraq War veteran with nearly 20 years of experience in Border Patrol and ICE. He sustained injuries last year when dragged by a vehicle during an attempted arrest. Attempts to contact Ross have been unsuccessful.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty expressed apprehension over the Trump administration's decision to exclude state and local authorities from the investigation. Moriarty emphasized that federal agents do not possess blanket immunity, affirming her office’s jurisdiction regarding prosecutorial decisions in this matter. Her office has established an online portal to gather public-submitted video evidence related to the shooting, although legal implications of such submissions remain uncertain.
Good’s wife, Becca Good, described Renee as a person who radiated kindness and lamented the circumstances that led to her death. She pledged to continue raising their son with values her late spouse cherished. The shooting reignited trauma in Minneapolis, where George Floyd’s killing sparked nationwide protests in 2020, prompting local schools to close and transition to remote learning temporarily.
Subsequent demonstrations occurred outside federal immigration facilities in Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as downtown Minneapolis venues, featuring chants and signs protesting immigration enforcement practices.
In Portland, a separate incident unfolded involving Border Patrol officers who shot two Venezuelan nationals outside a hospital. The individuals were wounded but remain in stable condition. Authorities acknowledged the individuals’ suspected gang affiliations but maintained an investigation is ongoing.
The immigration enforcement operation underway in Minneapolis represents one of the nation's largest, encompassing over 2,000 officers and resulting in numerous arrests. Resources have shifted from earlier operations in Louisiana, indicating a strategic refocus of enforcement efforts.
Renee Good's death marks at least the fifth fatality connected to immigration enforcement actions since the current administration took office, underscoring ongoing tensions and challenges faced by communities and law enforcement based on immigration policy implementation.
Contributions to the broader reporting effort came from various journalists across multiple U.S. locations, providing comprehensive coverage of the unfolding events, law enforcement responses, and community reactions.