Great Oak Gazette

Isabella Fields’28

Staff Writer

Early in the morning on January 7 in Minneapolis, U.S. citizen Renee Good was shot three times— once in the face—by ICE agent Jonathon Ross. Good was 37 years old, a mother of three, and an award-winning poet. After dropping off her six-year-old son, ICE agents in unmarked vehicles ordered her to pull over. Video evidence shows ICE agents approaching her car and ordering her to exit; the footage then captures her vehicle reversing and turning right onto the road. Agent Ross is seen raising his weapon after stepping out of the way of the car. Good’s vehicle stopped shortly after, and she died from the fatal gunshots.

This incident sparked protests and widespread outrage that divided the nation. Some law‐enforcement experts say it was unnecessary for the ICE agent to fire fatal shots to contain the situation. They also note that training instructs officers to avoid standing in front of occupied vehicles for their own safety. Jason Chavez, a Minneapolis City Council Member, along with numerous state and city officials, described the events as “a clear violation of use of force.” According to many Democrats in Congress, Good’s case represents yet another example of ICE’s failure to de-escalate without resorting to excessive force.

There are also allegations that she was acting dangerously with her vehicle and that she was an agitator during ICE operations. Agent Ross has stated that the shooting was an act of self‐preservation, claiming he felt threatened by Good’s vehicle. He had previously been involved in an unrelated incident in which he was dragged by a car, though it remains unclear whether that event influenced his decision. The FBI is currently handling the investigation into the shooting of Renee Good.

Had the agent made a different decision, Good would still be alive. While the opposing sides continue to debate across the country, one truth remains: Renee Good—a mother, a poet, and an American—lost her life. The pressing question now is whether ICE went too far.