On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old American citizen, was shot and killed by a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during a protest against the largest federal immigration enforcement deployment to date. Good, a mother of three, was present as a legal observer. According to reports, Good was murdered in her vehicle as she attempted to drive away. ICE officer Jonathan Ross fired three shots at Good, causing her to lose control of her car.
The killing of an American citizen while exercising her right to protest is horrific, and, tragically, entirely predictable given months of escalating rhetoric, fear-mongering, and aggressive immigration enforcement tactics under the Trump Administration. Moreover, we find ourselves in the constant flow of premature discourse and ambitious analyses, multiple cellphone videos, conflicting perspectives, and devastated families and loved ones after an unnecessary tragedy— none of this is new. The grim familiarity begs the question — what is within our power to change?
Studies show that anonymity increases the likelihood of violence in interactions with law enforcement. We find ourselves at a unique moment in modern American history when armed unidentified men in masks are fully sanctioned by the federal government to deliver enforcement from unmarked cars. This is a recipe for the disasters we have seen thus far to continue.
During high-energy interactions between law enforcement and members of the public, especially during protests, de-escalation, respect for constitutional rights, and protection of bystanders and observers are not optional; they are foundational to a functioning democracy. The exercise of federal authority in moments of public dissent will have lasting consequences for civic life and community safety.
This is not only a political flashpoint; it is a profound human tragedy that deserves care, restraint, and respect as the facts continue to emerge. In Minnesota, a life has been lost. Three children have lost their mother. Family members and friends are grieving an irreplaceable person, and a community is grappling with shock and trauma. We stand with them all during this very difficult time.
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The Center for Policing Equity (CPE) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit that uses data science to empower vulnerable communities—particularly Black communities—to partner with leaders on redesigning public safety systems that facilitate bold, innovative, and lasting change.