A fundraiser set up to support the family of a woman fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent last week has closed after raising a staggering more than $1.5 million in donations. The campaign for Renee Nicole Good's widow and three children amassed over 38,500 contributions in just four days, far surpassing its initial $50,000 goal.
A Tragic Incident and an Overwhelming Response
The online fundraiser was launched after Officer Jonathan 'Jon' Ross shot Renee Nicole Good three times on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities state the shooting occurred after Good allegedly ignored demands to exit her SUV. The campaign sought to support the family as they grappled with the 'devastating loss of their wife and mother.'
Organisers announced the closure of the GoFundMe on Friday, revealing the funds would be placed in a trust for the family. This includes Good's six-year-old son, who was orphaned by the tragedy. In an update, they encouraged those still wishing to donate to 'support others in need.'
Good's widow, Rebecca, expressed profound gratitude for the global support. 'The kindness of strangers is the most fitting tribute because if you ever encountered my wife... you know that above all else, she was kind,' she told MPR News. Rebecca described her wife as someone who 'radiated' kindness and 'sparkled,' living by a belief in nurturing compassion in the world.
Political Firestorm and Conflicting Narratives
The shooting has ignited fierce political debate and global outrage. While furious Democrats have branded Ross a murderer, the Trump administration has offered its full support, arguing the officer acted in self-defence. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended Ross as an experienced professional who followed his training, believing Good intended to run him over.
However, video evidence has raised serious questions about the self-defence claim, prompting an FBI investigation into the deadly use of force. Minnesota authorities are also seeking to investigate, and some protesters demand criminal charges against Ross.
Surveillance footage shows Good's SUV blocking a road for approximately four minutes before the shooting. A passenger, believed to be Rebecca, exited the vehicle. Witnesses claim the couple were acting as legal observers at an anti-ICE protest. In harrowing footage from the scene, Rebecca cried, 'I made her come down here, it's my fault.'
Parallel Fundraiser and Officer's Background
In a stark contrast, a separate fundraiser for Officer Jonathan Ross has raised over $300,000, with backing from hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman. The organiser, Clyde Emmons, described Good as a 'domestic terrorist' and called Ross's actions '1,000 percent justified,' stating funds would cover legal services.
Ross is an Iraq War veteran with nearly two decades of service in Border Patrol and ICE. Records show he was seriously injured just six months prior, requiring 33 stitches after being dragged by a car while attempting to arrest an illegal immigrant sex offender.
The Goods had recently moved to Minnesota, having reportedly left the US after Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, spending time in Canada before settling in Minneapolis. Rebecca concluded her public statement by vowing to honour Renee's legacy: 'We honour her memory by living her values: rejecting hate and choosing compassion... refusing division and knowing we must come together.'
