On Wednesday, after Immigration and Customs Enforcement descended upon Minnesota in its latest in a series of immigration raids, an ICE officer shot and killed a Minneapolis woman, 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good.
Federal officials claim the shooting was an act of self-defense, however, multiple recordings of the incident show Good, a United States citizen and observer on the scene, driving away when asked. On Thursday afternoon, the Minnesota Star Tribune identified the ICE agent who shot Good as Jonathan Ross.
This is at least the fifth death and the ninth shooting to result from ICE crackdowns across the country since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025.
Following Good’s death, thousands of locals attended vigils and protests honoring her life and urging ICE to leave the state. Their calls were echoed by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. And Colorado Governor Jared Polis, leader of Good's home state, has also called for a full investigation into her death.
"She was a compassionate neighbor trying to be a legal observer on behalf of her immigrant neighbors," Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison told NPR's Morning Edition. "That's what she was doing at the moment of her death. And she was a poet. She was a mom. She was a daughter. And I am deeply saddened by what happened to her and her family."
On her social media accounts, Good described herself as “a poet and writer and wife and mom” from Colorado, currently “experiencing Minneapolis.”
Good’s mother, Donna Granger, told the Minnesota Star Tribune that Good lived in the Twin Cities with her partner.
“Renee was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known,” Granger 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.”
Good's father, Tim Ganger, also spoke to The Washington Post about his daughter.
“She had a good life, but a hard life,” Ganger said. “She was a wonderful person.”
In the aftermath of her death, supporters have also rallied to support Good’s wife and children as they “grapple with the devastating loss of their wife and mother,” according to a GoFundMe fundraiser.
The fundraiser was created with an initial goal of raising $50,000, but has since surpassed $1.5 million, a mere two days after Good was shot and killed.
“Renee was pure sunshine, pure love,” the fundraiser, which was organized by Mattie Weiss, shared. “She will be desperately missed.”
A GoFundMe spokesperson confirmed to Good Good Good that the campaign has been verified, and another family friend, Becka Tilsen, was added as an administrator after the campaign surpassed $1 million in donations.
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We are here brokenhearted and in awe of your generosity," Tilsen, who identified herself as a friend of the family, shared in an update.
"My family met Renee and Becca after they moved to town and [became] fast friends. We will be adding Becca, Renee’s partner, as a beneficiary as soon as possible. They will have direct access to all of these funds. Thank you again for your compassion. They feel this tidal wave of care, and it really matters."
According to the fundraiser, over 38,500 people contributed, many leaving kind sentiments with their financial donations. Gifts range from totals as small as $5, all the way to $50,000, and messages continue to pour in from across the globe, including Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland, and more.
“I didn’t know you or your family, yet as a fellow writer with the shared desire to stand for those in their time of need, it’s a safe bet we shared many values, our hearts likely beating to a similar cadence,” one person wrote. “Rest with power, grace, and love. We're folding those you love into our hearts, holding them in these dark moments and beyond for your loss is our loss.”
“What happened to Renee has been witnessed and felt far beyond one place. As a mother, I cannot imagine the pain of leaving a child behind in this world alone. That thought is unbearable,” another added. “I don’t care about left or right — this is not about politics. This is about humanity.”
Once the campaign reached the $1.5 million threshold, organizers paused donations.
"Thank you for your generosity. We’ve closed this GoFundMe and will place the funds in a trust for the family," Weiss wrote in an update. "If you’re looking to donate, we encourage you to support others in need. We’re truly grateful."
Organizers also reshared a statement Good's wife, Becca, shared with MPR News.
"First, I want to extend my gratitude to all the people who have reached out from across the country and around the world to support our family. This kindness of strangers is the most fitting tribute because if you ever encountered my wife, Renee Nicole Macklin Good, you know that above all else, she was kind," Becca said.
"We were raising our son to believe that no matter where you come from or what you look like, all of us deserve compassion and kindness. Renee lived this belief every day," Becca continued. "On Wednesday, January 7th, we stopped to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns."
Becca went on to say that Good leaves behind three "extraordinary" children, the youngest just six years old.
"I am now left to raise our son and to continue teaching him, as Renee believed, that there are people building a better world for him. That the people who did this had fear and anger in their hearts, and we need to show them a better way," she concluded, adding a note of thanks for respecting the family's privacy.
"We honor her memory by living her values: rejecting hate and choosing compassion, turning away from fear and pursuing peace, refusing division and knowing we must come together to build a world where we all come home safe to the people we love.”
This article has been updated to reflect changes in donation totals.
Header image courtesy of ODU English Department/Facebook
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