Woman Killed by ICE Agent in Minneapolis Identified — What We Know

Minneapolis is reeling after a fatal shooting involving a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, an incident that has ignited widespread outrage and deepened tensions between local officials and federal authorities. The woman killed has been identified as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a poet, mother, and deeply loved member of the South Minneapolis community.

Her death has left family, neighbors, and city leaders grappling with grief and anger, describing a life cut short in what many are calling an unjust and devastating act of violence.

The shooting occurred on the morning of Wednesday, January 7, 2026, in a residential area of South Minneapolis. Federal immigration agents were reportedly conducting what they described as a “targeted operation” in the neighborhood when the situation escalated dramatically.

Video footage captured by bystanders and now widely circulated online shows a burgundy SUV surrounded by law enforcement officers. Seconds later, gunshots ring out. The vehicle then lurches forward before crashing into a light pole and several parked cars. Images from the scene reveal a bullet hole centered in the driver’s side of the windshield.

Conflicting Narratives Emerge

In the immediate aftermath, federal officials moved quickly to justify the use of deadly force. The Department of Homeland Security stated that ICE agents felt threatened during the operation, claiming that Good attempted to use her vehicle as a weapon against officers.

According to DHS, the agent who fired the shots acted in self-defense, believing his life and the lives of others were in imminent danger.

“A trained ICE officer, fearing for his life and the safety of others, discharged his weapon defensively,” said DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. She added that while the woman was killed, injured ICE officers were expected to recover.

This explanation has been strongly challenged by Minneapolis officials and community members who have reviewed the available footage. Critics argue the video appears to show a vehicle attempting to move away from the scene rather than intentionally strike officers.

City Officials Demand Accountability

The divide between local leadership and federal authorities has grown increasingly stark. The Minneapolis City Council issued a rare and unified statement rejecting federal language that labeled Good a “perpetrator.”

Instead, the council described her plainly as “a member of our community” and demanded a full investigation into the actions of the ICE agent involved.

“This morning an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good,” the statement read. “Anyone who kills someone in our city must be arrested, investigated, and prosecuted under the law.”

Mayor Jacob Frey echoed that outrage during a press conference, visibly shaken as he called for ICE agents to leave Minneapolis immediately. His directive marked a complete breakdown in cooperation between city leadership and federal immigration authorities.

Tensions escalated further after Minnesota State Senator Omar Fateh shared disturbing witness accounts suggesting that federal agents may have prevented a physician at the scene from administering potentially life-saving CPR to Good as she lay dying in her vehicle. While these claims remain under investigation, they fueled additional public anger and grief.

City council members, faith leaders, and residents gathered at the site of the shooting on Portland Avenue later that day, standing in solidarity and demanding answers.

A Mother’s Grief

As political fallout continues, Good’s family is left to navigate an unimaginable loss. Her mother, Donna Ganger, confirmed her daughter’s identity and spoke through heartbreak about the senselessness of the killing.

“That’s so stupid,” Ganger said, struggling to process what happened. “She was probably terrified.”

Ganger firmly rejected federal claims labeling her daughter a “professional agitator.” She emphasized that Renee was not involved in protests targeting ICE and was not politically active in the way officials had suggested.

“She was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known,” Ganger said. “She spent her life caring for others. She was compassionate, forgiving, affectionate — just an incredible human being.”

A Child Left Behind

The tragedy’s most painful consequence may be its impact on Good’s six-year-old son. Renee had dropped him off at school just minutes before the encounter that ended her life.

After the death of her second husband, Timmy Macklin Jr., in 2023, Renee had been her son’s primary caregiver and emotional anchor.

Timmy Ray Macklin Sr., her late husband’s father, expressed urgency and concern for the child’s future. “There’s nobody else in his life,” he said. “I’ll drive or fly — whatever it takes — to get to my grandchild.”

Remembered by Neighbors

In the South Minneapolis neighborhood where she lived, Good was known not as a political symbol, but as a familiar and cherished presence.

Neighbor Mary Radford described the family as warm and loving. “They have a sweet little boy,” she said. “We’re going to miss seeing them forever. It’s heartbreaking to think about what he’s facing now.”

A growing memorial of flowers, candles, and handwritten notes now marks the intersection of 34th Street and Portland Avenue, reflecting a community united in mourning.

Questions Surrounding the Vehicle

Investigators have also noted that the SUV driven by Good bore Missouri license plates. Records indicate the vehicle was registered to Renee N. Good Macklin at a Kansas City address. While she had been living in Minneapolis, it remains unclear why the registration had not been updated.

Authorities have not suggested the vehicle registration played a role in the shooting, but the detail has added to public scrutiny surrounding the incident.

A Life of Art and Compassion

Beyond the headlines, those who knew Renee remember her as a deeply creative and gentle soul. On social media, she described herself modestly as a poet, writer, mother, and amateur guitarist experiencing life in Minneapolis.

Her talent was recognized academically as well. In 2020, while studying creative writing at Old Dominion University, she won the school’s undergraduate poetry prize for her work On Learning to Dissect Fetal Pigs.

Friends say her intelligence and kindness were inseparable.

“She made me tea and cookies while we talked about school,” recalled Megan Kocher, who had visited Renee just weeks before her death. “She was such a warm, loving mother. This is beyond tragic.”

A Community in Mourning

As night fell over South Minneapolis, hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil in Renee Nicole Good’s honor. Candles flickered as the crowd chanted her name, a collective expression of grief and a demand for justice.

Speakers throughout the evening emphasized her compassion and devotion to her neighbors. Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, spoke directly to the heart of the tragedy.

“She was peaceful. She did the right thing,” Hussein said. “She died because she loved her neighbors.”

As investigations continue and protests grow, Minneapolis remains divided from federal authorities — yet united in grief for a woman remembered not for controversy, but for her humanity, creativity, and love.