Who was the victim in the Minneapolis ICE shooting? This is Renee Nicole Good, “a poet and writer and wife and mom”

A high-profile immigration operation in south Minneapolis ended in tragedy when a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman, triggering criticism, protests and an open clash between federal and local authorities.

The victim, identified by local officials as Renee Nicole Good, was fatally shot by an ICE agent during a raid that forms part of a sweeping federal immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota. More than 2,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel have been deployed across the state. Federal authorities claim Good tried to use her vehicle as a weapon against agents – an assertion that has been challenged by local leaders, eye witnesses and many who have watched the footage.

ICE agent kills woman during immigration raid

According to DHS and Donald Trump, the agent acted in self-defense after Good allegedly attempted to run over officers during the operation, describing the incident as an act of “domestic terrorism.” Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey has rejected that account, saying available video footage contradicts the federal narrative and calling the government’s explanation “bullshit.” Minnesota governor Tim Walz went further, raising the emergency alert level amid escalating tensions between federal forces and the local community.

The shooting has sparked outrage in Minneapolis and beyond, with street protests and calls from local leaders for ICE agents to leave the city. Community groups, civil rights advocates and residents have condemned what they see as excessive use of force, in a social climate already shaped by longstanding tensions over police violence and immigration enforcement.

Witnesses and advocacy organizations have circulated images and testimonies on social media that diverge from the official statement, suggesting the woman was attempting to reverse her vehicle to get away from agents when she was shot. These accounts have intensified the debate over use-of-force protocols in immigration raids and the accountability of federal agencies.

The Minneapolis operation comes amid an escalation of federal actions against migrants under the current administration, drawing strong pushback from local authorities who are calling for a review of the strategy and stronger safeguards for affected communities. Investigations into the agent’s conduct are ongoing, as judicial and civil authorities prepare to assess potential charges or disciplinary measures.

What we know about the victim, Renee Nicole Good

Renee Nicole Good was a 37-year-old poet, writer and mother, as told by her family and reporting by the Minnesota Star Tribune following the tragic ICE shooting.

Good lived in the Twin Cities with her partner and was killed just a few blocks from her home. Her mother, Donna Ganger, said the family was notified late Wednesday morning and described her daughter as “one of the kindest people I’ve ever known,” adding that she was “loving, forgiving and affectionate” and had spent her life caring for others. Ganger said Good was not involved with protesters confronting federal agents and was likely frightened in her final moments.

An Instagram account attributed to Good described her as a “poet and writer and wife and mom” originally from Colorado. She previously studied creative writing at Old Dominion University, where she won an undergraduate poetry prize in 2020.

Did Renee Nicole Good have children?

Good is survived by three children, including a 6-year-old she shared with her late former husband, Timmy Ray Macklin Jr., who died in 2023, according to family members cited by the Star Tribune.

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