Who Was Renee Nicole Good, The Mother of Three Killed by ICE?

The fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, by a federal immigration officer during an operation in Minneapolis has led to protests across the United States and conflicting accounts from local and federal officials.

Renee Nicole Good was a poet and legal observer who had moved to Minneapolis last year from Kansas City. She was originally from Colorado Springs and was raising three children. Friends and relatives described her as deeply committed to her family and her writing.

Good studied creative writing at Old Dominion University in Virginia. In 2020, she received an undergraduate award from the Academy of American Poets for her work On Learning to Dissect Fetal Pigs. Her biography at the time noted that she balanced writing with caring for her children and spending time on creative projects at home.

Her life included periods of difficulty as well as achievement. She had been married twice and was widowed in 2023 following the death of her second husband, Tim Macklin. She had previously worked in a range of jobs, including as a dental assistant and a credit union employee, before focusing on caring for her children. Friends recalled her Christian faith and her participation in youth mission work in Northern Ireland.

Minneapolis officials say Good was present as a legal observer, a volunteer role intended to monitor law enforcement activity and protect civil rights. Her mother, Donna Ganger, told the Minnesota Star Tribune that her daughter was not involved in any confrontation and described her as compassionate and frightened during the incident. Her father, Tim Ganger, said she had experienced both hardship and fulfilment in her life.

Federal officials have given a different account. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Good used her vehicle in an attempt to strike an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, describing the act as domestic terrorism. President Donald Trump repeated that claim on Truth Social, calling her a professional agitator who resisted federal agents. Authorities said the officer fired in self-defence.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey rejected that version of events after reviewing video footage. He said the officer acted recklessly and that the use of force resulted in Good’s death.

Demonstrations have taken place in several cities, with protesters calling for accountability. A fundraiser set up to support Good’s family exceeded its initial target of $50,000 within hours and raised more than $370,000 in one day.

The shooting occurred in south Minneapolis, close to the site where George Floyd was killed in 2020. For many protesters, the location has added to concerns about the use of force by law enforcement agencies.

Old Dominion University issued a statement expressing sorrow over Good’s death. The university’s president, Brian Hemphill, said her life should be remembered for its focus on freedom, love and peace.