The wife of a woman shot dead by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a protest in Minneapolis broke down in tears, blaming herself for the tragedy that unfolded on Wednesday.
A Fatal Confrontation and a Wife's Anguish
Harrowing footage from the scene captured the unidentified wife in a state of profound distress following the shooting of 37-year-old poet Renee Nicole Good. The woman could be heard saying through tears, 'I made her come down here, it’s my fault,' and 'They just shot my wife.' Witnesses have stated that Good and her wife were acting as legal observers, filming the protest against ICE when the incident occurred.
According to official accounts and video evidence, the confrontation began when Good, driving a burgundy SUV, blocked a road. ICE agents instructed her to move. Video shows her reversing the vehicle as an agent attempted to open the driver's side door. As she drove off, three shots were fired. Good was shot three times in the face and lost control of her SUV, crashing into parked cars and a light pole at high speed before being pronounced dead at the scene.
ICE claimed that Good deliberately drove at agents, a version of events fiercely disputed by onlookers and local officials. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey dismissed the claim as 'bulls**t,' while Department of Homeland Security officials described Good's actions as 'an act of domestic terrorism' and said the agent fired in self-defence.
A Life Lost and a Family Shattered
Renee Nicole Good was a poet and a mother of three from Colorado Springs who lived in Minneapolis with her partner. She leaves behind a six-year-old son, now orphaned, after the previous death of his father, comedian Timothy Macklin, in 2023. Photos from the scene showed children's toys inside her bloodied vehicle.
Her mother, Donna Ganger, vehemently denied reports that her daughter was involved in the protest, telling the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 'That's so stupid.' She remembered Good as 'one of the kindest people I've ever known... extremely compassionate' and said her daughter 'was probably terrified.'
Senator Tina Smith confirmed the victim was a US citizen, and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara stated nothing indicated she was the target of a law enforcement investigation.
Political Firestorm and Community Unrest
The shooting has ignited a fierce political row and further inflamed tensions surrounding ICE's role in communities. Mayor Jacob Frey delivered an explosive press conference, telling ICE to 'get the f**k out of Minneapolis.' He accused the agency of terrorising long-term residents and stated, 'now somebody is dead. That's on you.'
In contrast, Vice President JD Vance and former President Donald Trump offered full-throated support for the agents. Trump labelled Good a 'professional agitator' and said the shooting was in 'self defence,' while Vance asserted ICE would now 'work even harder.'
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged calm, slammed the DHS narrative as 'propaganda,' and promised a full investigation. He also revealed the Minnesota National Guard is prepared for potential deployment, warning, 'We will not take the bait' in a national political fight.
The aftermath saw protesters gather at the scene, some throwing snowballs at ICE officers and waving anti-police flags. Authorities responded with tear gas and pepper spray. The FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating the shooting.
