Overview
ICE agent Jonathan Ross fired three shots in 700 milliseconds, killing 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in her car on a Minneapolis street. Good was a U.S. citizen, a mother of three, standing with her wife to support neighbors during Trump's self-proclaimed "largest immigration operation ever"—2,000 federal agents deployed to Minnesota. Federal officials claim she tried to run over Ross. Minneapolis officials who reviewed video footage called that story "bullshit."
Within four days, more than 1,000 protests under the slogan "ICE Out for Good" mobilized tens of thousands across every major American city. The FBI seized exclusive control of the investigation, blocking Minnesota state authorities from accessing evidence. This is the ninth time ICE agents have opened fire since September 2025, the fourth killing during Trump's mass deportation campaign. At stake: whether federal agents can shoot civilians without state accountability, and whether organized resistance can halt the administration's immigration crackdown.
Related Media
Images from Openverse under Creative Commons licenses. Videos from YouTube.
Key Indicators
People Involved
Organizations Involved
Federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement and removal operations, created after 9/11.
Broad national coalition organizing mass protests demanding ICE abolition after Minneapolis shooting.
Federal investigative agency that seized exclusive control of the Renee Good shooting investigation.
Timeline
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Protests Continue, Tens of Thousands March
ProtestSecond day of nationwide protests. Tens of thousands march in Minneapolis alone, with large crowds in Philadelphia, New York, DC, Los Angeles, Boston.
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1,000+ Protests Launch Nationwide
ProtestICE Out for Good coalition mobilizes tens of thousands in largest coordinated anti-ICE action in U.S. history. Major demonstrations in every major city.
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Video from Ross's Phone Released
EvidenceAlpha News publishes 47-second video from shooter's perspective showing Good turning steering wheel away before shots fired. Becca Good heard yelling "Drive, baby, drive!"
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Minnesota Launches Independent State Investigation
InvestigationHennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty and AG Keith Ellison launch separate probe, ask public to submit evidence directly to state.
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FBI Seizes Exclusive Control of Investigation
InvestigationFBI reverses agreement for joint state-federal probe, blocks Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension from accessing evidence.
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Vice President Vance Defends Shooter
Federal ResponseJD Vance calls it "a lie" to describe Good as innocent, blames her death on "radicals who teach people" to interfere with immigration law.
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ICE Agent Jonathan Ross Identified Publicly
InvestigationMedia outlets identify 43-year-old Iraq War veteran Jonathan Ross as the shooter.
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Secretary Noem Calls Good's Actions 'Domestic Terrorism'
Federal ResponseDHS Secretary Kristi Noem claims Good was intentionally trying to mow down agents, asserts Minnesota has no jurisdiction.
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Portland: Border Patrol Shoots Two More People
ShootingOne day after Minneapolis, Border Patrol agents shoot two people during traffic stop in Portland, Oregon. Both hospitalized in stable condition.
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ICE Agent Shoots Renee Good Three Times, Kills Her
ShootingAfter dropping her son at school, Renee Good stops on Portland Avenue to support neighbors during ICE enforcement. Agent Jonathan Ross fires three shots in 700 milliseconds, killing her.
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Minneapolis Mayor Frey: 'Get the F*** Out'
Political ResponseAfter reviewing video footage, Mayor Jacob Frey calls federal justification "bullshit" and demands ICE leave Minneapolis immediately.
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Governor Walz Issues National Guard Warning Order
State ResponseMinnesota Governor Tim Walz prepares National Guard for potential deployment, calls shooting preventable and unnecessary.
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DHS Launches 'Largest Immigration Operation Ever'
Federal OperationDepartment of Homeland Security deploys 2,000 federal agents to Minneapolis area, citing fraud investigations targeting Somali community.
Scenarios
State Prosecution Moves Forward, Federal Immunity Tested
Discussed by: Legal experts at Lawfare, Slate, constitutional law professors analyzing Hennepin County's jurisdiction claims
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty files state criminal charges against Jonathan Ross for manslaughter or murder. The case becomes a Supreme Court test of whether federal agents can be prosecuted by states for shootings during enforcement operations. Legal precedent from In re Neagle (1890) and the Ruby Ridge case suggests federal officers can face state prosecution when their use of force exceeds what's "necessary and proper." Video evidence showing Good's vehicle turning away from Ross could undermine his self-defense claim. Trump cannot pardon state convictions, making this pathway significant regardless of federal prosecution decisions.
FBI Clears Agent, Mass Movement Intensifies
Discussed by: Immigration advocates, civil rights organizations warning of credibility crisis if federal investigation whitewashes the shooting
The FBI-controlled investigation concludes Ross acted in self-defense, declining prosecution. State authorities lack evidence access to build their own case. The decision triggers a credibility crisis as Minnesota officials publicly dispute federal findings. The "Abolish ICE" movement gains mainstream Democratic support similar to 2018, but now backed by fatal shooting evidence and mass mobilization infrastructure. Congressional Democrats introduce legislation to dissolve ICE and create new immigration enforcement structures. The movement becomes a defining issue in the 2026 midterms, with protests escalating whenever ICE conducts visible enforcement operations.
Trump Invokes Insurrection Act, Federalizes Minnesota Guard
Discussed by: CNN, legal analysts discussing potential confrontation over National Guard control after Walz's warning order
As protests intensify and Minnesota prepares National Guard deployment, Trump invokes the Insurrection Act to federalize state troops and prevent Governor Walz from interfering with immigration enforcement. This constitutional crisis mirrors historical conflicts over federal versus state authority. Minnesota officials refuse to comply, creating a standoff. The confrontation galvanizes opposition across multiple states where governors threaten non-cooperation with ICE. Mass civil disobedience spreads, with protesters physically blocking ICE operations in multiple cities. The administration faces a choice between backing down or escalating force against American protesters.
Congressional Investigation, ICE Leadership Shakeup
Discussed by: Democratic House members, Government Accountability Office reports on ICE use-of-force patterns
Congressional Democrats launch investigations into all nine ICE shootings since September 2025, uncovering systemic use-of-force problems and inadequate training. Evidence emerges that ICE leadership encouraged aggressive tactics to meet Trump's 3,000-daily-arrest quota. Public pressure forces ICE Director Patrick Lechleitner to resign. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem implements new use-of-force restrictions and body camera requirements. The reforms don't satisfy abolition demands but constrain ICE operations. Ross faces administrative discipline but no criminal charges. The compromise satisfies neither protesters nor immigration hardliners, leaving the underlying conflict unresolved.
Historical Context
George Floyd Protests (2020)
May-August 2020What Happened
Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for over nine minutes. The murder, captured on video, sparked the largest protest movement in U.S. history with 15-26 million participants nationwide. Minneapolis saw days of intense unrest including the burning of a police precinct. The incident catalyzed the Black Lives Matter movement and national reckoning on police violence.
Outcome
Short term: Chauvin was convicted of murder and sentenced to 22.5 years. Minneapolis saw significant property damage and National Guard deployment.
Long term: The protests failed to produce major federal police reform legislation, though some cities reduced police budgets and implemented reforms. The movement energized progressive politics but also sparked conservative backlash.
Why It's Relevant
The Renee Good shooting occurred less than a mile from where Floyd was killed, reopening Minneapolis's trauma. But unlike 2020, these protests remain largely peaceful despite similar outrage over federal agents killing a civilian. The question is whether organized resistance learned tactical lessons from 2020 or whether this represents a different phase of confrontation with federal enforcement power.
Ruby Ridge FBI Shooting (1992)
August 1992What Happened
During an 11-day standoff at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, an FBI sniper shot and killed Vicki Weaver, an unarmed woman holding her infant daughter. The incident began with a U.S. Marshals operation that resulted in the death of Weaver's 14-year-old son and a marshal. The FBI's rules of engagement were later deemed unconstitutional. The shooting became a rallying point for anti-government movements and raised questions about federal use of force.
Outcome
Short term: The sniper faced state manslaughter charges, though the case was eventually dismissed. The Weaver family received a $3.1 million settlement.
Long term: Ruby Ridge led to reforms in FBI hostage rescue protocols and rules of engagement. The 9th Circuit ruled federal officials could face state prosecution when use of force exceeded what was reasonable, establishing precedent that federal agents don't have absolute immunity.
Why It's Relevant
Ruby Ridge established the legal principle that federal agents can be prosecuted by states for excessive force. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty is citing this precedent in asserting jurisdiction over Jonathan Ross. The case demonstrates that federal officials can face state accountability, though such prosecutions remain extremely rare.
Abolish ICE Movement (2018)
June-December 2018What Happened
After Trump's first-term family separation policy sparked outrage, grassroots immigrant rights activists launched the "Abolish ICE" movement. The cause gained mainstream attention when Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made it central to her upset primary victory over Joe Crowley in June 2018. Fellow Democrats including Kirsten Gillibrand and Bill de Blasio joined the call. At least 15 Democratic challengers campaigned on abolishing ICE. The movement represented the most significant challenge to federal immigration enforcement structures in modern history.
Outcome
Short term: The movement forced immigration policy into the center of 2018-2020 Democratic debates. Democrats won the House in 2018 but didn't pursue abolition legislation.
Long term: By 2020, "Abolish ICE" faded from mainstream Democratic messaging as the party moved toward more moderate immigration positions. ICE continued operating with expanded authority under both administrations. The grassroots movement remained but lost political momentum.
Why It's Relevant
The 2026 "ICE Out for Good" protests represent the movement's resurgence, but now backed by fatal shootings rather than policy disputes. The current mobilization is larger—1,000+ protests versus scattered 2018 demonstrations. The question is whether documented killings provide the catalyst that policy debates couldn't, or whether this surge also fades when the news cycle moves on.