A newly released video from an ICE officer’s perspective shows the fatal shooting of Renee Good, reigniting national debate over immigration enforcement tactics and the use of deadly force.
The fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis has sparked nationwide protests and renewed scrutiny of immigration enforcement tactics. A newly released 47-second video, filmed from the perspective of ICE officer Jonathan Ross, shows the final moments of the encounter, providing a new angle on the incident that has divided public opinion and legal experts.
The Incident: What the New Video Shows
The video, published by Alpha News and later reposted by the Department of Homeland Security, shows Ross approaching Good’s vehicle with sirens blaring. Good, a U.S. citizen and former veteran, is seen with one hand on the steering wheel and the other outside the open driver’s side window. Her wife, standing outside the passenger side, is heard saying, “U.S. citizen, former f—ing veteran.”
As other officers approach the driver’s side, one yells, “Get out of the car, get out of the f—ing car.” Good briefly reverses, then turns the steering wheel toward the passenger side as she drives ahead. Ross opens fire, and the camera becomes unsteady before showing Good’s SUV careening away. A crashing sound is heard as Good’s vehicle collides with parked cars.
Public and Political Reactions
The shooting has drawn sharp reactions from political leaders. Vice President JD Vance and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin have defended Ross, arguing that the video shows he acted in self-defense. Vance stated, “The reality is that his life was endangered and he fired in self defense.”
However, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has dismissed the self-defense argument as “garbage.” The shooting has also led to protests in multiple cities, with hundreds gathering outside federal facilities and hotels where immigration enforcement agents were staying.
Legal and Policing Experts Weigh In
Policing experts have raised questions about Ross’s actions. Geoff Alpert, a criminology professor at the University of South Carolina, noted, “Now that we can see he’s holding a gun in one hand and a cellphone in the other filming, I want to see the officer training that permits that.”
John P. Gross, a professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School, argued that the video demonstrates the officers did not perceive Good as a threat. “If you are an officer who views this woman as a threat, you don’t have one hand on a cellphone. You don’t walk around this supposed weapon, casually filming,” Gross said.
Broader Context: Immigration Enforcement and Public Trust
The Minneapolis shooting occurred during what Homeland Security calls the biggest immigration enforcement operation ever, with over 2,000 officers participating. The operation has led to more than 1,500 arrests, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The incident has resonated far beyond Minneapolis, drawing comparisons to the 2020 killing of George Floyd by police in the same city. The school district canceled classes for the rest of the week as a precaution, offering an online option through February 12.
Ongoing Investigations and Calls for Accountability
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has expressed concerns about the Trump administration’s decision to bar state and local agencies from participating in the investigation. Moriarty has also clarified that the officer who shot Good does not have complete legal immunity, contrary to Vance’s claims.
Moriarty’s office has set up a link for the public to submit footage of the shooting, though the legal outcome of such submissions remains uncertain. Good’s wife, Becca Good, released a statement saying, “On Wednesday, January 7th, we stopped to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns.”
National Implications and Future Protests
The shooting has become a focal point for broader debates about immigration enforcement and the use of deadly force. More protests are planned for the weekend, according to Indivisible, a group formed to resist the Trump administration.
The incident is at least the fifth death tied to immigration sweeps since President Donald Trump took office, highlighting the ongoing tensions between federal immigration policies and public trust.
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