A community in Minneapolis, Minnesota, gathered for a sombre vigil and protest on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Macklin Good by a federal immigration agent. The incident has sparked national outrage and raised serious questions about the use of force by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A Life Cut Short: Poet, Mother, and Neighbour
Renee Nicole Macklin Good was described by her family as a compassionate and affectionate mother of three. Born in Colorado, she had no criminal history beyond a traffic violation. On social media, she identified herself as a "poet and writer and wife and mom". She had a 15-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son from her first marriage, and a six-year-old son from her second.
She had recently moved to Minneapolis from Kansas City, Missouri, last year, a change she noted on her Instagram with a pride flag emoji and the phrase "experiencing Minneapolis". Her Pinterest profile showed a smiling woman holding a young child, alongside interests in tattoos, hairstyles, and home decor.
Her former husband, who spoke anonymously to protect their children's safety, told the Associated Press that Macklin Good was a devoted Christian. In her youth, she participated in mission trips to Northern Ireland. She had a lifelong love of singing, performing in a high school chorus and studying vocal performance in college.
Academic Achievements and Personal Tragedy
Macklin Good was a graduate of Old Dominion University in Virginia, where she earned a degree in English in December 2020. The university's president, Brian Hemphill, issued a statement mourning her loss, calling her a "proud Monarch" and highlighting the unifying principles of "freedom, love, and peace".
While at university, her talent for writing was recognised when she won an Academy of American Poets Prize in 2020 for a piece titled On Learning to Dissect Fetal Pigs. She also co-hosted a podcast with her second husband, who passed away in 2023. In recent years, she had primarily been a stay-at-home mother, having previously worked as a dental assistant and at a credit union.
The Fatal Encounter and Community Outpouring
The tragic event occurred on a snowy Minneapolis street. According to her ex-husband, Macklin Good had just dropped her youngest son at school and was driving home with her partner when they encountered a group of ICE agents. The details leading to the shooting remain under investigation.
He emphasised that she was not an activist and had not participated in any protests he was aware of, contradicting characterisations from certain quarters. The local community responded with grief and solidarity. Neighbours and friends attended a vigil on Wednesday night.
Mary Radford, a next-door neighbour, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune about the family's frequent presence. "It’s a beautiful family. They have a son. He’s very sweet... They’re always outside playing. We’re gonna miss seeing them – forever," Radford said.
The incident prompted Minneapolis Public Schools to cancel classes on Thursday, citing safety concerns and the profound impact on the community. As tributes pour in, the focus remains on the life of a woman remembered for her kindness, her creativity, and her role as a mother, now at the centre of a national debate on immigration enforcement and accountability.
