Renee Macklin Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on a snowy street in Minneapolis on Wednesday. A US citizen born in Colorado, Renee had recently moved to Minnesota from Kansas City, Missouri, and had no criminal record beyond a minor traffic ticket.
She described herself on social media as a “poet, writer, wife, and mom,” sharing moments of family life, creativity, and joy. Her Instagram and Pinterest accounts reflected her love for writing, tattoos, hairstyles, home decorating, and raising her children.
According to her ex-husband, who requested anonymity for the safety of their children, Renee had just dropped her six-year-old son at school when she encountered a group of ICE agents while driving home with her current partner. Bystander videos show an officer approaching her car, ordering her to open the door, and grabbing the handle. When Renee began to pull forward, a second ICE officer standing in front of the vehicle fired multiple shots at close range, striking her inside the car.
In a harrowing video recorded shortly after the shooting, a distraught partner is seen near the vehicle, wailing, “That’s my wife. I don’t know what to do.” The couple’s family and friends have expressed shock and grief over the incident.
Federal officials under the Trump administration described Renee as a “domestic terrorist” who attempted to ram federal agents. Her ex-husband strongly disputed these claims, stating that Renee had never participated in protests or activism and was a devoted Christian who had gone on youth mission trips during her younger years. He described her as loving, compassionate, and a devoted mother.
Renee had studied creative writing at Old Dominion University in Virginia and received a literary prize in 2020. She also hosted a podcast with her late second husband, who passed away in 2023. In addition to her creative work, she had previously worked as a dental assistant and at a credit union but spent most of her recent years as a stay-at-home mom.
She leaves behind three children: a 15-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son from her first marriage, and a six-year-old son from her second marriage. Her mother, Donna Ganger, described Renee as “one of the kindest people I’ve ever known,” emphasizing her compassion, forgiveness, and love for others.
The shooting has sparked outrage and calls for accountability. Civil rights advocates and community leaders are demanding the release of body-camera footage, an independent investigation, and transparency from ICE. The family insists they are seeking the truth, not political narratives.
Renee Macklin Good’s death raises serious questions about the use of force by federal authorities and the protection of civilians during law enforcement operations. Her story has become a poignant reminder of the human cost of aggressive policing.
Those who knew her remember Renee as a poet, a mother, a writer, and a compassionate individual. She was not a criminal, not a terrorist, and posed no threat. Her death has left three children without their mother and a community searching for answers. As investigations continue, her life and legacy stand as a testament to love, creativity, and family.