Minneapolis is reeling after a deadly encounter between a federal ICE agent and a local woman, an incident that has ignited outrage across the nation.

The victim, 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was a poet, mother, and Minneapolis resident whose sudden death has left friends, neighbors, and family heartbroken.

The tragedy unfolded on the morning of January 7, 2026, in south Minneapolis during a federal immigration operation.

Video footage shows a burgundy SUV surrounded by ICE officers at the intersection of 34th Street and Portland Avenue. Gunfire erupted moments later, leaving the vehicle crashed into a light pole and parked cars, with bullet holes visible in the driver’s side windshield.

Moments after the shooting, Good’s wife, covered in blood and visibly distraught, sobbed on the icy street. “I made her come down here, it’s my fault,” she cried. “They just shot my wife.”

According to New York Post, she had been filming the agents just minutes before the deadly confrontation and rushed to help after the gunfire.

ICE claims self-defense

Federal officials defended the shooting, with DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stating, “An ICE officer fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow officers and the lives of the public, fired defensive shots, used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers. The alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased. Thankfully, the ICE officers who were hurt are expected to make full recoveries.”

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem added that Good had been “stalking and impeding” federal agents and called the incident “preventable.”

However, this account has faced intense scrutiny and widespread criticism.

Speaking at a press conference alongside U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem called Good’s death “preventable” but defended the actions of the ICE agents involved.

“Any loss of life is a tragedy and I think all of us can agree that, in this situation, it was preventable,” Noem said.

President Donald Trump described Good as “very disorderly, obstructing and resisting,” alleging she tried to run over an ICE officer, who he said was “recovering in the hospital,” despite video evidence showing the agent walking around uninjured.

City officials and witnesses, however, sharply disagreed with the federal narrative. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called it “bulls***,” saying, “They’re ripping families apart. They’re sowing chaos on our streets and in this case quite literally killing people.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also criticized the federal response, calling it “governing by reality TV” and urging a full, fair investigation.

Remembering Renee Nicole Good

Good was more than the headlines. She was a mother of three, a poet, a musician, and a compassionate neighbor.

On social media, she described herself as a “poet and writer and wife and mom and shitty guitar strummer from Colorado; experiencing Minneapolis, MN.”

Her mother, Donna Ganger, told the Minnesota Star Tribune, “She was extremely compassionate. She’s taken care of people all her life. She was loving, forgiving and affectionate. She was an amazing human being. She was probably terrified.”

Good’s family now faces the unimaginable task of raising her six-year-old child alone. Timmy Ray Macklin Sr., father of her late former husband, expressed his concern for his grandchild:

“There’s nobody else in his life. I’ll drive. I’ll fly. To come and get my grandchild.”

Neighbors described Good and her family as kind and close-knit. Mary Radford, 27, who lived next door, said, “It’s a beautiful family. They have a son. He’s very sweet. They’re always outside playing. We’re gonna miss seeing them — forever. It is so painful to think about how he’s gonna fare in his life. And I just can’t even imagine what that family is going through.”

Friends and neighbors remembered Good as a kind and giving person. Megan Kocher, who visited her home just weeks earlier, said, “She fed me tea and cookies at her house while we talked about school stuff. She was such a warm and loving mother. This is tragic beyond words.”

Details of the incident

Good’s SUV, registered in Missouri to Renee N. Good Macklin, was reportedly driving during the encounter, though it is unclear why it was registered out of state.

DHS labeled the situation as a “domestic terrorism” incident, alleging Good attempted to “weaponize her vehicle” against the agents.

Despite these claims, city leaders and witnesses rejected the federal account. Minneapolis City Council members released a statement saying, “This morning an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a member of our community. Anyone who kills someone in our city deserves to be arrested, investigated, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

State Senator Omar Fateh shared on X that he had received reports of federal agents blocking a doctor from administering potentially life-saving CPR. Fateh, along with Mayor Frey, city council members, and faith leaders, visited the scene shortly after the shooting.

No matter the political disputes over the circumstances, Renee Nicole Good’s death has left a grieving community demanding justice, accountability, and answers. RIP, Renee.