A Woman Fatally Shot and Killed in Minneapolis Shocks the World Causing Chaos and Disruption
By Tamikio L. Dooley, January 10, 2026
Residents of Minneapolis mourn at a makeshift memorial for Renee Nicole Good, killed by ICE officer Jonathan Ross on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, a heartbreaking incident in Minneapolis shocked many. Jonathan Ross, an ICE officer, shot Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, in the head three times inside her vehicle. The horrific and senseless crime alarmed the residents and out-of-state residents, causing tension between state and federal authorities.
Following the shooting and murder, federal officials prevented investigators from accessing information.
Legal experts are questioning whether the state can charge the ICE officer with murder.
Local prosecutors said they will consider their choices as the federal government tries to take over investigating Renee’s death. The FBI instructed the Minnesota law enforcement to avoid the investigation.
Kristi Noem and other federal leaders defend the ICE officer’s actions in the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz asked federal officials to reconsider Kristi Noem’s statement.
According to legal experts, there is assurance in safeguarding federal employees such as Jonathan Ross from charges being attacked by claims of immunity under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. This clause protects federal employees at work.
In examining the standard for immunity under the Supremacy Clause of the U. S. Constitutions, the federal ICE officer could argue that he is immune from state prosecution under the Clause if charged for the victim’s death.
Robert Yablon, a University of Wisconsin Law School professor, says the rule prevents a state from prosecuting a federal officer if federal law permitted the action and it was crucial to their job. Yablon co-directs the school’s Democracy Research Initiative. He added state prosecutors would have to address state and federal laws to bypass immunity barriers.
To charge the officer, their investigation must show a violation of the statute. Investigators must also prove that the ICE officer’s action was unconstitutional and excessive. Yablon continues, “If the actions violated the Fourth Amendment, you can’t say those actions were exercised under federal law.” Yablon discusses constitutional safeguards against unwarranted government searches.
Major complications will arise in the investigation if federal and state authorities disagree and resist.
Kristi Noem supports the officer’s action, while state officials suggest alternative ways to uncover the investigation. “They have not been cut out; they don’t have any jurisdiction in this investigation.” Tom Walz believes that the federal authorities should work with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to reverse direction. Residents of Minnesota would lose trust in the investigation. It’s obvious state officials can’t do their own investigation. However, Keith Ellison, Minnesota’s Attorney General, stated on CNN that the feds’ move to exclude the state from the probe was against the law, in other words.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriaty stated “Exploring all options to ensure a state level investigation can continue. If the FBI is the sole investigation agency, the state will not receive the investigative findings, and our community may never learn about its contents”. The FBI’s concealment of information influences the investigation.
Todd Blanche, the Deputy Attorney General, stated on social media federal agents make fast decisions in hazardous situations-in other words. Blanche also stated that officers aren’t required to risk their lives. Most people disagree with Blanche’s claim after watching the video. In the video, some viewers believe Renee Nicole Good threatened the ICE Officer, and tried to hit him with her vehicle.
Blanche’s statement contradicts the fact that the officer murdered Renee in cold blood. Despite what people want to witness, some people won’t accept the truth.
It’s still unknown whether state investigators can access the training records and interviews from the federal agent present during the shooting. This hinges on a different question if they keep investigating. The provided details can show if the officer followed protocol or broke it.
Immigration enforcement tasks focus on violent actions. The Department of Justice’s silence regarding violence is under scrutiny. Samantha Trepel, a former Justice Department prosecutor and director at the State United Democracy Center, wrote a Just Security article on Wednesday about the fatal shooting. Trepel also took part in prosecuting the officer involved in George Floyd’s murder.
She said to the AP on Thursday that the DOJ now isn’t as independent as before.
In Trepel’s own words, “In previous administrations, the DOJ conducted independent and thorough investigations of all alleged federal officer’s excessive force. Even though the feds were investigating the feds, they had a track record of doing this work credibly. This included bringing in expert investigators and civil rights prosecutors from Washington who didn’t have close relationships and community ties with the individuals they were investigating.” Trepel thinks gathering witness interviews, videos, and examining policies and training would help decide if an agent violated federal law. This is a routine federal investigation into claims of unjustified lethal force. Proper findings would be conducted by the FBI and DOJ.
Trepel states, “I hope it’s happening now, but we have little visibility. The administration can conduct immigration enforcement humanely and without these brutal tactics and chaos. They can arrest people who have broken the law and keep the public safe without sacrificing who we are as Americans.”
A doctor approached the shooting, identifying to the agent that shot Renee. He intended to take Renee’s pulse. The ICE officer blocked the doctor from the crime scene and threatened arrest. It says a lot about the application and misapplication of power in hazardous and disordered contexts. The officer denied Renee medical aid, and also, they did not permit an ambulance to get close to the crime scene. The video is spreading this information.
In a similar case, Tyre Nichols died in 2023 because of failed medical treatment in Memphis, Tennessee. But in this specific case, the authorities discharged and prosecuted the officers involved.
Those who identify with the truth can see ICE officer Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in cold blood in the video inside her vehicle. Some people disregarded the fact that the officer committed a terrible crime because of Renee’s background, even though Renee was clearly not a threat to the officer, or anyone else. Renee Nicole Good was not only a mother and wife, but she was also an award-winning poet and writer, known for her creativity, compassion, and advocacy, also a talented artist with a passion for the guitar, tragically shot and killed by an unprofessional ICE federal immigration agent. People held a debate and a protest.
The cold-blooded shooting and murder was senseless for many, including Renee’s loved ones.
Renee Nicole Good’s family GoFundMe surpassed $1.5 million before it was closed.
Renee’s family appreciates the support and sympathy from everyone.
Source Citation:
Claudia Lauer (January 8, 2026). Times Union, The Associated Press, Fatal ICE Shooting Sparks Jurisdiction Clash between State and Federal Authorities. https://www.timesunion.com/news/politics/article/fatal-ice-shooting-sparks-jurisdiction-clash-21284741.php