A Minneapolis woman who was fatally shot by a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent during an enforcement operation has been identified as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a mother and U.S. citizen.
Good’s mother, Donna Ganger, confirmed her daughter’s death to the Minnesota Star Tribune after being notified on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 7.
“Renee was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known,” Ganger said. “She was extremely compassionate. She’s taken care of people all her life. She was loving, forgiving and affectionate. She was an amazing human being.”
The fatal shooting occurred during an ICE operation in Minneapolis after a group of people allegedly attempted to block federal officers. According to city officials, Good was not the target of immigration enforcement. Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez described her as an observer who was present to watch over immigrant residents in the neighborhood.
Good’s death came just days after ICE began large-scale enforcement actions in the city, amid heightened rhetoric from President Donald Trump and his administration regarding Somali immigrants.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey strongly condemned the federal agency during a press conference held Wednesday.
“We’ve dreaded this moment since the early stages of this ICE presence in Minneapolis,” Frey said. “This was a federal agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying.”
Frey went further, directly addressing ICE officials: “Get the f— out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here. Your stated purpose for being in this city is to create some kind of safety, but you are doing exactly the opposite.”
According to ABC News, citing city officials, Good was shot in the head and transported to a local hospital, where she later died.
Good had previously been married to Timmy Ray Macklin Jr., who died in 2023 at the age of 36. The couple shared a child who is now 6 years old. Macklin’s father, Timmy Ray Macklin Sr., told the Star Tribune he was devastated by the news and expressed concern for his grandchild.
“There’s nobody else in his life,” Macklin Sr. said. “I’ll drive. I’ll fly. To come and get my grandchild.”
Eyewitness Emily Heller told NBC News she observed ICE agents approach a vehicle that was parked perpendicular to traffic and instruct the driver to leave the area.
“They went up to her car and started trying to open her door, and that’s when I’m sure she got spooked and tried to flee,” Heller said. According to her account, Good reversed her vehicle and attempted to drive forward when an agent stepped in front of the car and fired multiple shots.
“One of the ICE agents stepped in front of her vehicle and reached across the hood and fired his weapon about three or four times and shot her in the face,” Heller said.
Heller said Good’s vehicle struck nearby cars and crashed into a post before she slumped over inside.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Heller added. “This was horrific and will change my life forever. It’s just so terrifying.”
In a statement released after the incident, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin alleged that Good “weaponized her vehicle” and attempted to run over law enforcement officers. McLaughlin stated that the agent fired his weapon out of fear for his life, the safety of fellow officers, and the public.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz addressed the situation during a news conference, announcing that he had issued a warning order to prepare the state’s National Guard. He also urged residents to engage only in peaceful protest.
“The desire to get out and speak up to this administration about how wrong this is is a patriotic duty,” Walz said. “But it needs to be done safely.”
The shooting remains under investigation as tensions continue to rise in Minneapolis following the federal enforcement actions.