The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer who fatally shot a woman during an operation in Minneapolis this week has been publicly identified for the first time.
Agent and Victim Identified
Jonathan E. Ross, a 43-year-old Iraq war veteran and Enforcement and Removal Operations agent, was named as the officer who shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred as Good was driving her SUV on a street where ICE agents were carrying out duties. Ross, who goes by Jon, has served as an immigration officer since at least 2013 and has lived on the outskirts of Minneapolis since 2015.
Renee Good, a mother-of-three, was at the location with her wife, Rebecca Good. The couple had reportedly left the United States after Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, spending time in Canada before settling in Minneapolis.
Father's Defence and Family Details
In an exclusive interview, Ross's 80-year-old father, Ed Ross, staunchly defended his son's actions. "She hit him," the elder Ross stated. "He also had an officer whose arm was in the car. He will not be charged with anything." He described his son as a "committed, conservative Christian, a tremendous father, a tremendous husband."
The father, from North Perkin, Illinois, confirmed that Ross's 38-year-old wife is a US citizen but declined to elaborate on her immigration history. Social media reveals Ross married his wife, whose parents are doctors in the Philippines, in August 2012. Despite neighbours describing Ross as a hardcore MAGA supporter who flew pro-Trump and 'Don't Tread On Me' flags, his family includes foreign-born in-laws.
Political divisions have surfaced within the Ross family itself. In 2020, his sister Nicole posted on Facebook condemning white supremacy, leading to a deleted exchange where Ross appeared to comment, prompting friends and family to state they "respectfully disagree" with his views.
Contested Narrative of the Shooting
The circumstances of the shooting are fiercely disputed. ICE claims Good deliberately drove her burgundy SUV at agents, justifying the use of lethal force. However, witnesses and local Democratic officials, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have challenged this account, with the mayor dismissing the ICE version as false.
Footage from the scene shows Good's vehicle blocking the road before she reverses. An agent attempts to open the driver's door before she drives off, at which point three shots are fired. The SUV, later shown with a bullet hole through the driver's side windscreen and children's toys inside, then crashed into parked cars and a light pole.
Ross's name initially emerged from federal court documents related to a 2023 incident where an ICE officer was dragged by a car. This detail was cited by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Vice President JD Vance, pointing to Ross's involvement in the arrest of undocumented immigrant Roberto Carlos Muñoz.
Political Fallout and Demands
The shooting has ignited significant political tension. While the Trump administration has defended Ross's actions, state and local officials in Minnesota have demanded that ICE leave the state following Good's death. Secretary Noem has stated the agents will remain.
Protests have erupted in Minneapolis, with clashes between demonstrators and police outside the immigration court. The case has become a focal point for national anger over ICE enforcement actions, juxtaposing the agent's personal background against the tragic outcome of the operation.
