ICE agent fatally shoots lesbian woman, Renee Nicole Good, in Minneapolis

A federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a lesbian woman, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, triggering sharp criticism from local officials and LGBTQ+ advocates.

Video footage captured the moment an ICE officer fired into Good’s vehicle as she attempted to drive away from federal agents conducting an enforcement operation. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has defended the shooting, claiming the officer acted in self‑defence after Good “weaponised” her SUV and attempted to ram agents - describing it as “domestic terrorism”. 

However, both the mayor of Minneapolis and other local authorities dispute this narrative. Mayor Jacob Frey condemned DHS’s account as “bulls**t,” stating the agent “recklessly used power that resulted in somebody dying” and called for ICE to leave the city. Minnesota’s governor, Tim Walz, and LGBTQ+ officials have joined the outcry, demanding an independent investigation and accountability.

Renee Nicole Good, identified by her mother, Donna Ganger, was described as one of the kindest and most compassionate people. Ganger and Good’s wife - present at the scene - have spoken publicly, with her wife crying, “They killed my wife… We stopped to videotape [ICE activity], and they shot her in the head”.

Local officials highlight that Good was not involved in any form of protest. She was reportedly “out caring for her neighbours” when she was shot. Community leaders and elected representatives have emphasised that no evidence suggests she posed a threat warranting lethal force. 

Federal authorities have maintained that the shooting was justified, stating that the ICE officer fired defensive shots after Good’s vehicle moved towards agents. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem echoed this rationale, though she did not confirm whether the officer was struck before firing. 

Following the shooting, protests erupted in south Minneapolis. Community members gathered at the site of the incident, laying flowers and calling for ICE to be expelled from the city. Calls are growing for the FBI and Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to conduct a thorough investigation.