ICE Officer Identified in Fatal Minneapolis Shooting: New Details Emerge
The ICE officer involved in the January 7, 2026, Minneapolis shooting has been publicly identified as Jonathan E. Ross, a 10-year veteran of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). New details about his history and a prior violent encounter have sparked national attention.
Ross’s Background and Tenure
Ross has served a decade with ICE. According to The Guardian, he has extensive field experience. Federal officials initially declined to confirm his name. Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, said, “We are not going to expose the name of this officer. He acted according to his training.”
However, court filings linked Ross to a 2025 incident, confirming his identity. The Minneapolis Star Tribune cited video and court records tying him to the earlier case.
Previous Violent Encounter
In June 2025, Ross attempted to arrest Roberto Carlos Muñoz, a Guatemalan national with prior convictions, including sexual assault of a minor. During a traffic stop in Bloomington, Minnesota, Muñoz refused to exit his vehicle. Ross broke the rear driver’s side window, and Muñoz accelerated, dragging Ross roughly 100 yards with his arm trapped.
Ross sustained injuries to both arms and hands, requiring 33 stitches. He was hospitalized and later recovered. Muñoz was arrested, charged with assaulting a federal officer, and convicted in December 2025.
Vice President Addresses Shooting
Vice President JD Vance defended Ross at a White House briefing. He highlighted Ross’s previous near-death experience, suggesting it may have influenced his response during the Minneapolis operation. Vance also criticized media coverage for overlooking the officer’s past trauma.
The Fatal January 7 Incident
The tragic event unfolded in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood at 34th Street and Portland Avenue. ICE agents were conducting targeted operations when they reported being confronted. According to DHS, the woman, later identified as Renee Nicole Good, allegedly attempted to weaponize her vehicle.
“An ICE officer fearing for his life, the lives of fellow officers, and the public, fired defensive shots,” McLaughlin said. Video shows a burgundy SUV surrounded by law enforcement, with visible bullet holes and nearby vehicle damage. Witnesses reported the woman appeared to be fleeing before the shooting.
Victim Identified
Renee Nicole Good, a poet, writer, wife, and mother, was a member of the LGBTQ+ community originally from Colorado. She had won Old Dominion University’s undergraduate poetry prize in 2020. Good lived just blocks from the shooting site in Minneapolis.
Her mother, Donna Ganger, expressed heartbreak: “She was probably terrified… she had no involvement with protests or confrontations. She was extremely compassionate and loving.”
Good’s six-year-old son is her only child. Her late husband, Timmy Ray Macklin Jr., died in 2023 at age 36. Family members voiced concern for the boy’s future.
Community Response
Neighbors and community members gathered to mourn. Mary Radford, 27, who lived next door, said, “We’re gonna miss seeing them—forever. It’s painful to think about how he’s going to fare. I just can’t imagine what that family is going through.”
A memorial formed at the scene, with dozens of mourners paying respects to Good. Local leaders, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and state Senator Omar Fateh, visited the site and called for transparency.
The identification of Jonathan Ross adds context to the tragic January 7 shooting. As authorities continue to investigate, the community remains in mourning. The incident raises questions about ICE operations, officer conduct, and accountability while highlighting the profound personal loss suffered by Renee Nicole Good’s family and neighbors.
