Fatal ICE Operation in South Minneapolis
A federal immigration operation in south Minneapolis ended tragically on January 7, 2026, when a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed a woman during a tense vehicle encounter. The incident sparked public outrage and widespread confusion.
Authorities said the woman posed a threat. However, video footage and witness accounts suggested otherwise. The shooting left the community reeling.
Scene of the Shooting
The deadly encounter occurred at the intersection of 34th Street and Portland Avenue, in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood, according to KARE 11. ICE agents were conducting “targeted operations” when they were reportedly confronted by individuals attempting to interfere.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated that the woman “weaponized her vehicle” and tried to run over officers. She explained:
“An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow officers, and the public, fired defensive shots. He used his training to save himself and his team. The alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased. Thankfully, the ICE officers who were hurt are expected to make full recoveries.”
Video shared online shows a burgundy SUV surrounded by law enforcement. Gunshots are heard before the vehicle crashes into a light pole. Bullet holes appear in the driver’s side windshield, and two nearby parked cars were also struck. Witnesses said the woman seemed to be fleeing ICE agents when she was shot.
Community and Official Response
Minnesota State Senator Omar Fateh reported on social media that a doctor was reportedly prevented from administering lifesaving CPR. Fateh, Mayor Jacob Frey, city council members, and local faith leaders quickly visited the scene.
Dozens of federal and local officers secured the area. Shocked neighbors gathered, witnessing the aftermath of the fatal shooting.
Scene of an ICE-involved shooting in south Minneapolis on January 7, 2026, where a burgundy SUV with a bullet hole in the windshield is surrounded by agents | Source: Getty Images
Victim Identified: Renee Nicole Good
Authorities later identified the woman as Renee Nicole Good, 37, a local poet and mother. Her family confirmed her identity. The Minneapolis City Council released a statement:
“Renee was a resident of our city who was out caring for her neighbors this morning, and her life was taken at the hands of the federal government. Anyone who kills someone in our city deserves to be arrested, investigated, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Good described herself on Instagram as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, a poet, a writer, a wife, a mother, and a guitarist. Her work earned recognition in 2020 when she received Old Dominion University’s undergraduate poetry prize for her piece On Learning to Dissect Fetal Pigs. She had recently settled in Minneapolis, living just blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Family and Neighbors Mourn
Good’s mother, Donna Ganger, expressed heartbreak after being notified of her daughter’s death. She told the Star Tribune:
“That’s so stupid. She was probably terrified. She had no involvement in protests or confrontations. She was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known.”
Ganger described her daughter as compassionate, loving, and devoted to helping others. Good had previously been married to Timmy Ray Macklin Jr., who passed away in 2023. They shared a six-year-old child. Macklin’s father expressed concern for his grandson:
“There’s nobody else in his life. I’ll drive. I’ll fly. I’ll come get my grandchild.”
Neighbors mourned alongside Good’s family. Mary Radford, 27, who lived next door, remembered the family fondly, describing their kindness and the warmth of Good’s young son. Community members gathered at a memorial near the shooting site, leaving flowers and signs in her honor.
Broader Context: ICE Operations Under Scrutiny
This tragedy isn’t the first ICE operation drawing public scrutiny. In November 2025, armed ICE agents conducted a controversial arrest of Bruna Caroline Ferreira, a Brazilian-born woman, outside Boston. Video footage showed a heavily armed takedown, sparking online debate and speculation about the motives behind the arrest.
Critics questioned whether ICE targeted her for immigration reasons or personal matters. Legal battles followed, as Ferreira’s attorney maintained she was protected under DACA, despite government claims she was in the U.S. illegally. At the time, she remained detained 1,500 miles from her arrest site, at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center.
Ongoing Legal and Family Issues
Ferreira was attempting to pick up her son on the day of the arrest. Family dynamics complicated the situation, as custody arrangements involved her ex-partner Michael Leavitt, who lived in New Hampshire. The arrest left her son separated from his mother, intensifying concerns for the child’s welfare.
This tragedy in Minneapolis has reignited debates about federal immigration enforcement, public safety, and community accountability. Residents continue to mourn Renee Nicole Good, a mother, poet, and neighbor, whose life was cut short during an ICE operation.
