On January 7, 2026, the city of Minneapolis was once again thrust into the national spotlight after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in her car near Portland Avenue and 34th Street. The incident immediately sparked a wave of protests, vigils, and heated debate about the role of federal immigration enforcement in American cities, echoing the wounds left by the 2020 police killing of George Floyd just blocks away.
According to CNN, the events of the day unfolded rapidly and were marked by confusion, anger, and sorrow. Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of a six-year-old child, was identified as the victim. Her alma mater, Old Dominion University, confirmed she had graduated with a degree in English in December 2020. University President Brian O. Hemphill described her as "a proud Monarch" and called her death "yet another clear example that fear and violence have sadly become commonplace in our nation." Her mother, Donna Ganger, remembered Renee as "loving, forgiving and affectionate," and "an amazing human being."
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem quickly defended the ICE agent's actions, stating that Good "weaponized her vehicle" and "attempted to run a law enforcement officer over." Noem went further, labeling the incident as an act of "domestic terrorism" on Good's part. However, local and state officials, as well as eyewitnesses, disputed this narrative. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called the federal account "positively ridiculous," adding, "The way that ICE is behaving is reckless." Frey told ICE agents to "get the fuck out of Minneapolis," while Governor Tim Walz warned that ICE's operations in Minnesota were a "threat to our public safety."
Three separate videos of the shooting, reviewed by CNN, revealed a complex and unclear situation. One video showed an officer positioning himself in front of Good's vehicle and firing three shots through the windshield as she attempted to turn the car away, rather than toward the officer. Witnesses described Good as blowing a whistle and yelling out her window to alert neighbors of ICE's presence. Ugene Bentley, who watched the incident from his window, said he saw an agent take a video of the front and rear of Good's car before the shooting. "I'm thinking at that time that they can follow up," Bentley said, implying that less lethal means could have been employed. Another witness, Trevor Heitkamp, described the ICE agent's actions as "an unnecessary use of force in a reaction to imagined danger."
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara emphasized that his officers were not involved in the shooting and were present only to secure the crime scene for a thorough investigation. "We have an obligation to secure that crime scene so that evidence can be processed and that we can ensure that a full and thorough investigation can occur," O'Hara told CNN. He also expressed concern about the methods of federal law enforcement, stating, "The questionable methods that we have seen, that I have said repeatedly, cause a potential danger to the law enforcement officers themselves, as well as to members of the community."
As news of Good's death spread, the community responded with both grief and resolve. Thousands gathered at the site of the shooting for a vigil, filling the street with candles, flowers, and whistles. The vigil became a rallying point for those opposed to the Trump administration's immigration policies and the presence of heavily armed, masked federal officers in cities like Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, and Memphis. Chants of "No Trump, no troops, Twin Cities ain’t licking boots" echoed through the cold night air.
Speakers at the vigil called for the prosecution of the ICE agent involved in the shooting. Attorney and civil rights activist Nekima Levy Armstrong condemned the official narrative, saying, "For them to sit there and lie, and try to paint a false narrative about Renee, is exactly what they have done for police abuse victims year after year after year." Community members like Carly Morford expressed their determination to stand up against such violence: "I’m not going to sit by while my fellow Minnesotans are shot and killed."
The impact of Good's death was felt far beyond Minneapolis. In Chicago, over 200 people gathered at Winnemac Park for a vigil organized by the Ward 40+ Community Response Team. Many in attendance were part of ICE Watch and Rapid Response efforts, committed to defending their neighbors from federal enforcement actions. Kelly Hayes, a local organizer, reflected on the pain and solidarity of the moment: "There is power in grief, because grief draws us together in moments when our enemies would tear us apart." She urged the community to resist the normalization of ICE violence, saying, "We will resist the normalization of their violence, the immobilization of fear, and the sense of inevitability they would impose upon us."
Nationwide, the killing of Renee Nicole Good ignited protests and acts of civil disobedience. In Sacramento, California, graffiti and property damage were reported at an ICE building, with messages like "REST IN PEACE Renee Nicole Killed By ICE" left amid the debris. Public schools in Minneapolis were closed for the remainder of the week due to safety concerns, underlining the heightened tensions in the city.
Political leaders responded along partisan lines. Vice President JD Vance described Good's death as "a tragedy of her own making," while reaffirming support for ICE agents: "I want every ICE officer to know that their president, vice president, and the entire administration stands behind them." Former Vice President Mike Pence called for "more support from local and state officials for ICE agents doing a very hard job." Meanwhile, the Minneapolis City Council issued a joint statement condemning the shooting and demanding that ICE leave the city immediately, declaring, "Anyone who kills someone in our city deserves to be arrested, investigated, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Former Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo told CNN that ICE agents could have de-escalated the situation, suggesting, "Get out of the way of the car." He argued that deadly force should only be used when absolutely necessary, adding, "To use deadly force…the elements of that have to be so concerning to open up fire on an individual." Colorado Governor Jared Polis, noting Good's ties to Colorado Springs, called the incident "tragic" and "deeply disturbing," and demanded a full investigation.
As the city of Minneapolis and communities across the country mourn the loss of Renee Nicole Good, the incident has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement, police violence, and the future of American democracy. The outpouring of grief, calls for justice, and determination to resist further violence suggest that, even in the darkest moments, the bonds of community and the demand for accountability remain unbroken.
