“I NEED PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED”: Mother Breaks Silence After Her Daughter Renee Nicole Good Was Killed by ICE Agent in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS — In a packed press room just days after a devastating shooting that has ignited national outrage and protests, Donna Ganger spoke with a clarity and purpose that left reporters silent.
“I need people to know what really happened,” she said, her voice steady despite the grief etched across her face. Her daughter, 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, was killed on January 7 when an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot her during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis — a killing that has since become a flashpoint in the debate over federal law enforcement and immigration policy.
Ganger didn’t mince words. She didn’t offer vague condolences. Instead, she named the agent involved, recounted what her daughter was, and demanded accountability from authorities who have so far offered conflicting accounts. Good was shot in her vehicle by an ICE officer while attempting to leave the scene of an ICE operation, according to multiple eyewitnesses and video evidence. Federal officials have justified the shooting as self-defense, but Minneapolis leaders and witnesses dispute that claim, saying Good posed no threat.
“Renee wasn’t a threat,” Ganger said, pausing as tears welled. “She was a mother. A daughter. Someone who should have come home that day.”
A Life Cut Short
Renee Nicole Good was more than a headline.
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She was a mother of three, described by family and friends as compassionate, creative, and deeply devoted to her children.
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She graduated with an English degree and earned awards for her poetry, according to social media and university records.
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She had just dropped her youngest child off at school and was driving with her wife when the fatal encounter occurred.
“Everybody who knew her says she was kindness personified,” Ganger told reporters. “She helped people. She loved her children. She didn’t deserve this.”
An Incident That Sparked Outrage
The shooting unfolded during what federal officials have described as the largest immigration enforcement operation yet in the region. Videos shared online show Good’s car pulling away before an ICE agent fired multiple shots into her vehicle, killing her. While the Department of Homeland Security labeled the incident justified, local leaders and legal experts have rejected that narrative, saying available footage and witness accounts do not support federal claims.
The aftermath — including large protests in Minneapolis and other U.S. cities — has underscored broader anger at ICE’s tactics and raised questions about oversight and accountability. Thousands have marched under chants of “Say her name: Renee Good!” demanding transparency and justice.
Family Calls for Accountability
At the press conference, Ganger stood alongside members of the community, advocates, and civil rights leaders. Her message was simple yet powerful: this was not a tragic accident — it was a preventable death that must be examined at every level of law enforcement.
“We don’t want hatred,” she said. “We want the truth. We want change.”
Her courage in speaking out has resonated far beyond Minneapolis. A fundraising campaign for Good’s family quickly surpassed $1.5 million, reflecting widespread support and solidarity from people across the country.
Good’s case has also drawn criticism from elected officials who are now questioning the fairness of the federal investigation and calling for independent state oversight.
What Comes Next
As investigations continue and public pressure grows, Minneapolis stands at a crossroads — grappling with the death of one of its own while questioning the role of federal enforcement in local communities. For Donna Ganger, the mission is personal.
“Renee’s story shouldn’t end here,” she said. “Her life mattered — and we need everyone to know that.”
