MINNEAPOLIS — ICE Officer Shoots American Citizen in South Neighborhood
In the months prior to this week’s fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer on a residential street in south Minneapolis, residents of the Central neighborhood had grown familiar with the piercing sounds of car horns and shrill whistles—alerts used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to signal their presence. These noises, once unexpected, had become a disconcerting routine for the diverse community. Similar tactics have been adopted nationwide as a grassroots reaction to President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts.
“It’s terrifying. It’s horrible. These are the conversations that now we have to have with our children, and the anxiety it causes them,” said Ginya, 41, who resides a few houses away from where Good was killed. Ginya requested her last name be withheld to protect her family’s safety. “It’s heartbreaking that any of this is happening, and we just want ICE to leave.”
Following the incident, Trump posted on social media, claiming Good “violently, willfully and viciously ran over the ICE Officer.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled the event an act of “domestic terrorism,” insisting Good had attempted to strike the officer. The agency described her as a “violent rioter,” asserting the officer acted in self-defense.
“Federal officials are trying to spin this as an action of self-defense,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey after reviewing a video of the encounter. He criticized the narrative, emphasizing the community’s skepticism about the immediate threat posed by the vehicle.
Witness accounts and NBC News analysis of the footage have raised doubts about whether the car presented an imminent danger. While key details are still under investigation, the incident has reignited tensions in a city still grappling with the aftermath of George Floyd’s police murder in May 2020, which sparked nationwide demonstrations against racial injustice.
A Legacy of Protest and Community Resilience
For residents like Amalia Perrier, 23, the tragedy reopened old scars. “I think it’s a really big trauma and tear on the city,” Perrier said, standing near a makeshift memorial on Thursday night. “I can’t believe this is happening here again.” Despite the pain, Perrier highlighted Minneapolis’ strong community networks, noting, “We’re really acutely organized. It’s a very, very strong support system here, and we’re always going to rally for our community and neighbors.”
The city’s response to recent police actions has been shaped by years of unrest, including protests after the deaths of Philando Castile, Justine Damond, Daunte Wright, and Amir Locke. These incidents have become pivotal in shaping demands for accountability and reform, with their names now etched into the city’s history of resistance. Their legacy continues to fuel the collective resolve of Minneapolis residents, even in the face of renewed tensions.
