In what is quickly becoming known as the shots heard round the world, American citizen Renee Nicole Good was shot dead January 7, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis. That encounter has sparked more than a thousand protests across the nation, an outpouring of sympathy for Good’s surviving family members and a continuing stream of rhetoric and false claims by the Trump administration.
Here’s what we know as of this posting:
• On the day Renee Good was killed, she was driving with her wife Becca after dropping off their youngest son at school when they encountered ICE agents in their neighborhood.
• Video and eyewitness accounts show agents confronting Renee, reportedly issuing conflicting orders, with at least one agent telling her to get out and another to drive away. Additional footage shows an agent firing into her vehicle as she attempted to move her SUV.
• Not surprisingly, official statements from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have described the shooting as an act of self-defense. Family, community leaders and local officials dispute that narrative, however.
“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,” Becca Good said in a statement carried by national and social media and in conjunction with a gofundme account, which has stopped accepting any further donations. “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. In fact, kindness radiated out of her.
“Renee leaves behind three extraordinary children,” Becca continued. “The youngest is just six years old and already lost his father. 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.
President Donald Trump has responded to the killing of Good by describing her as a “very violent, radical person” and “very, very disrespectful to law enforcement.” He also referred to her and her wife as “professional agitators,” although there is no evidence whatsoever to corroborate his claim.
He initially stated Good “ran [the officer] over, and added, “You can’t be treating law enforcement that way… whether it’s ICE or Border Patrol or our police.”
After watching footage of the shooting, Trump called it “a terrible scene” and “horrible to watch,” but he did not condemn the agent. Instead, he blamed the “radical left” for creating a dangerous environment and said that law enforcement should have total immunity.
Although Ross has not been formally charged with any crime, the shooting is being investigated by federal authorities. According to local authorities there, the FBI is attempting to block Minnesota investigators from moving forward in any capacity. However, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty are pursuing an investigation and asking members of the public to submit evidence related to the shooting via a secure online portal.
Multiple media sources have indicated Ross can face serious charges (despite Trump’s assertion). The establishment of a gofundme account for him, identified as necessary “to cover legal expenses,” confirms he clearly has concerns about prosecution from the state of Minnesota for the killing of Renee Good and the inability of a pardon from Trump.
Despite the false accusations coming from Trump and his administration, additional comments from Renee’s wife Becca paint a picture of a spiritual and caring individual who believed strongly in the goodness of humanity and helping others.
“Renee lived by an overarching belief: there is kindness in the world and we need to do everything we can to find it where it resides and nurture it where it needs to grow. Renee was a Christian who knew that all religions teach the same essential truth: we are here to love each other, care for each other, and keep each other safe and whole.”