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Authorities are investigating the fatal shooting of Renee Macklin Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, who was killed during an immigration-related operation carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in south Minneapolis on January 7, 2026. The incident has ignited intense debate and conflicting accounts from federal officials and Minnesota leaders, prompting calls for an independent investigation.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the ICE agent involved discharged his weapon in self-defense after Good allegedly used her vehicle in a manner that posed a threat to officers at the scene. A DHS spokesperson described the gunfire as a defensive response intended to protect agents during a rapidly unfolding encounter.
That account has been sharply disputed by local and state officials. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he reviewed video footage of the incident and rejected the federal government’s characterization, stating that it does not align with what the video appears to show. Frey called for an independent investigation and urged ICE to halt enforcement operations within the city, arguing that the agency’s continued presence complicated emergency response efforts following the shooting.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the state is committed to ensuring a “full, fair, and expeditious investigation” to determine what occurred and whether accountability is warranted. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota also raised concerns, noting that federal statements appear inconsistent with video evidence and eyewitness descriptions.
Minneapolis police said Renee Macklin Good did not appear to be the target of any law enforcement action. Witnesses reported a tense scene on Portland Avenue, where a vehicle was stopped amid activity linked to the federal operation. Video circulating on social media shows agents surrounding a burgundy SUV and ordering the driver to exit before shots were fired. The vehicle then rolled forward, striking nearby objects. Good was taken for medical treatment but later died from her injuries.
Friends and supporters described Good as a poet and writer, a wife and mother, and a longtime Colorado resident who had been living in Minneapolis. Advocacy groups claimed she was acting as a legal observer during community activity related to federal enforcement actions, though authorities have not confirmed that role.
Civil rights and community organizations condemned the shooting and demanded transparency. The American Humanist Association said conflicting narratives have emerged and stressed the need for an independent, thorough review to establish the facts.
ICE agents were conducting targeted operations in Minneapolis at the time of the incident. The agent who fired the shots has not been publicly identified. Officials say the investigation remains ongoing and that additional information will be released as it becomes available.
This remains a developing story.