Jonathan Ross Identified as ICE Agent Who Shot Renee Good

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — In a development that has sent shockwaves through the Twin Cities and intensified a national firestorm over federal immigration enforcement, court records and investigative reports have identified Jonathan E. Ross as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on January 7, 2026.

The identification of Ross, a 43-year-old veteran deportation officer, comes as federal authorities—including President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—vehemently defend the shooting as an act of self-defense against “domestic terrorism.” Conversely, local leaders, eyewitnesses, and forensic analysis of bystander video suggest a far more controversial narrative of the events that unfolded on Portland Avenue.

The Identification of Jonathan Ross

For nearly 24 hours following the shooting, federal officials refused to name the agent involved, citing concerns over “doxxing” and the safety of federal personnel. However, the Minnesota Star Tribune and other outlets identified Ross by cross-referencing public records and specific details released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

A History of Conflict

Jonathan Ross is a 10-year veteran of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and a member of the agency’s elite Special Response Team (SRT). Investigative reports have linked him to a high-profile incident in June 2025 in Bloomington, Minnesota.

In that prior case, Ross was reportedly dragged for 100 yards by a fleeing vehicle while attempting to apprehend Roberto Carlos Muñoz, an undocumented immigrant. That encounter left Ross with serious lacerations requiring 33 stitches to his arms and hands. Vice President J.D. Vance referenced this specific injury during a White House briefing, suggesting that the trauma of being dragged months earlier made the agent “sensitive” to vehicles moving toward him.

The Shooting of Renee Nicole Good

The fatal encounter occurred around 9:30 a.m. in the Central neighborhood of south Minneapolis. ICE agents were conducting a “targeted crackdown” when they encountered a maroon Honda Pilot driven by Good, a U.S. citizen, poet, and mother of three.

Conflicting Accounts

• The Federal Narrative: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and President Trump have characterized Good as a “disorderly” individual who “weaponized her vehicle” to ram federal agents. They claim Ross fired in self-defense to prevent being run over.
• The Witness and Video Evidence: Bystander videos shared widely on social media show a different perspective. Witnesses describe Good receiving conflicting orders—one agent telling her to move her vehicle while another ordered her to exit. As she maneuvered the car away from the agents, Ross is seen walking toward the driver’s side and firing multiple rounds into the vehicle.

Good was struck in the head. Her car traveled a short distance before crashing into a parked vehicle and a light pole. She was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

National and Local Outrage

The killing of a U.S. citizen by federal agents has triggered a massive rift between state and federal authorities.

• Governor Tim Walz: The Minnesota Governor expressed outrage, stating the shooting was “avoidable” and that federal claims were “verifiably false.”
• Mayor Jacob Frey: In a blunt rebuke, Frey demanded that ICE “get the f*** out of Minneapolis,” accusing federal agents of causing chaos rather than safety.
• The BCA Withdrawal: The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) was initially set to lead a joint investigation with the FBI. However, the BCA “reluctantly withdrew” after the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office blocked state investigators from accessing evidence and interviewing witnesses.

Who was Renee Nicole Good?

Beyond the headlines, those who knew Renee Good describe a compassionate woman devoted to her family and her craft.

• Background: Originally from Colorado, Good was an award-winning poet who graduated from Old Dominion University in 2020.
• Family: She was a mother to three children, ages 15, 12, and 6. Her 6-year-old son had just been dropped off at school minutes before the shooting.
• Community: Her mother, Donna Ganger, described her as “pure sunshine” and “one of the kindest people I’ve ever known.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who is Jonathan Ross?

Jonathan E. Ross is a 43-year-old ICE deportation officer with over 10 years of experience. He is a member of the Special Response Team and has a background that reportedly includes military service in Iraq.

2. Was Renee Good a U.S. citizen?

Yes. Renee Nicole Good was a U.S. citizen born in Colorado. She had no criminal record and was not the target of the immigration raid.

3. Why did the ICE agent open fire?

Federal officials claim the agent fired in self-defense because he feared the vehicle was being used to ram him. Eyewitnesses and video footage contest this, suggesting the vehicle was moving away from the agents when the shots were fired.

4. What is the “Whipple Building” mentioned in reports?

The Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Fort Snelling is the regional headquarters for ICE and other federal agencies in Minnesota. It has become a primary site for protests following the shooting.

5. Who is investigating the shooting?

Currently, the FBI is leading the investigation. The Minnesota BCA withdrew from the probe after being denied access to key evidence by federal authorities.

Top stories