Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, has been identified as the woman fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during a federal immigration operation in south Minneapolis on January 7, 2026.
The shooting near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue took place amid escalating tensions between federal agents and demonstrators, and has triggered a joint investigation by the FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).
Key Highlights
- Victim identified as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen.
- Shot by ICE officer during immigration enforcement activity near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue in south Minneapolis.
- Minneapolis Police Chief says there is no indication she was a target of any law-enforcement investigation or ICE arrest.
- FBI and Minnesota BCA are jointly investigating the shooting and use of deadly force.
- State and city leaders, including Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, have demanded accountability and condemned the federal operation.
Who Was Renee Nicole Good?
According to officials and family members, the victim has been identified as Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old resident of the Twin Cities area and a U.S. citizen.
Her mother, Donna Ganger, told the Star Tribune that Good was “one of the kindest people I’ve ever known” and described her as extremely compassionate, loving and devoted to caring for others.
Reporting has also highlighted an Instagram bio believed to be linked to Good, which describes her as a “poet and writer”, a characterization that has circulated widely on social media but has not been formally confirmed by authorities.
As of now, law-enforcement agencies have released only limited personal details beyond her name, age and citizenship status, citing the ongoing investigation.
Shooting Incident and Context
The shooting took place around 9:30 a.m. on January 7 on Portland Avenue between East 33rd and 34th Streets, in the Central neighborhood of south Minneapolis.
At the time, ICE and other federal agents were carrying out what the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has described as part of its largest immigration enforcement operation yet in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area, involving about 2,000 federal officers.
According to multiple videos reviewed by outlets including NPR and local media, Good’s SUV was stopped across Portland Avenue as agents approached on foot. An officer is seen at the driver’s side door as the vehicle reverses briefly and then moves forward, at which point another ICE officer standing near the front of the car draws his weapon and fires multiple shots into the vehicle. The SUV then crashes into a parked car.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that the officer fired “defensive shots” after Good allegedly “weaponized her vehicle” and tried to run over federal agents, calling the act “domestic terrorism.”
However, eyewitnesses quoted in local coverage say Good appeared to be trying to leave the area rather than drive into officers, and that her vehicle was not moving toward agents at the moment shots were fired.
Investigations Underway
Minneapolis police officers and firefighters were first to respond to reports of shots fired, finding Good with a gunshot wound to the head. First responders attempted life-saving measures before she was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara said there is “nothing to indicate” that Good was the subject of any law-enforcement investigation or ICE operation when she was shot.
O’Hara added that he was “very concerned” about the tactics used and about any shooting into a vehicle of someone “who’s not armed”, comments widely interpreted as indicating that Good was unarmed at the time.
The FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension have taken over the primary investigation into the shooting and the use of deadly force.
Gov. Tim Walz has activated the State Emergency Operations Center and placed the Minnesota National Guard on standby to respond to possible unrest, while promising a “full, fair and expeditious investigation to ensure accountability and justice.”
Family Response
Good’s mother publicly identified her daughter and said the family is in shock. In interviews reported by the Star Tribune and other outlets, she described Good as deeply compassionate, someone who had “taken care of people all her life” and was “loving, forgiving and affectionate.”
Family members and supporters have questioned federal accounts that characterized Good as a “violent rioter”. Civil-rights groups, including the National Immigration Law Center, have called for independent oversight and warned against accepting official narratives that are contradicted by available video evidence.
Impact and Broader Reactions
The killing has intensified scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics and the use of deadly force in residential neighborhoods. It also comes just blocks from the site where George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020, a fact repeatedly noted by local leaders and community members.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey accused ICE of “recklessly using power” and said federal operations were creating chaos rather than safety, urging ICE to leave the city.
Gov. Walz has called the shooting “totally predictable” and “totally avoidable,” blaming the federal surge of agents for escalating risks and urging residents not to “take the bait” of provocation.
Community organizations and local officials have urged protests to remain peaceful, while insisting that state and local authorities use every legal tool available to hold federal agencies accountable.
FAQs
Renee Nicole Good was a 37-year-old U.S. citizen from the Twin Cities area who was shot and killed by an ICE officer during a federal immigration operation in south Minneapolis on January 7, 2026.
The shooting occurred around 9:30 a.m. near the intersection of East 34th Street and Portland Avenue in the Central neighborhood of south Minneapolis.
According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara and city officials, there is no evidence that Good was the target of any law-enforcement investigation or ICE arrest at the time of the shooting.
The FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are jointly investigating the shooting and the use of deadly force. State leaders have also called for full transparency and accountability.
No. As of the latest official statements, the investigation by the FBI and Minnesota BCA is ongoing, and no final conclusions about the use of force have been released.
Editor’s Note
This report is based on verified information available at the time of publication, including official statements, city government releases and reporting by major U.S. and international news outlets. Details may be updated as investigative agencies release further findings.
Transparency & Ethics
No conflicts of interest: The publisher and editors have no disclosed conflict of interest related to this story.
AI assistance: This article was drafted with the assistance of AI for research, fact-checking and language refinement. All key claims have been cross-checked against reputable sources, including local authorities and established news organizations.
Sources used: Primary reporting was consulted from Star Tribune, CBS Minnesota, NPR, the City of Minneapolis, and other verified outlets, alongside official statements from DHS and Minnesota state officials.
No sponsored content: This report does not contain sponsored material, affiliate links or paid editorial placements.
