Minneapolis Descends into Chaos as Protests Erupt Over Fatal ICE Shooting of Local Disrupter

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — January 8, 2026

Tensions boiled over in Minneapolis on Thursday as hundreds of protesters clashed with riot police outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, one day after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good during a large-scale immigration operation in the city's south side.

Altercations broke out between demonstrators and law enforcement in riot gear, with reports of chemical irritants being deployed and objects thrown at federal vehicles. The protests followed vigils attended by thousands mourning Good, a U.S. citizen, mother, poet, and recent resident described by family and local officials as a compassionate community member who was "out caring for her neighbors" at the time of the incident.

The shooting occurred Wednesday morning near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue — just blocks from where George Floyd was killed in 2020, sparking nationwide unrest. Video footage circulating widely shows ICE agents approaching Good's SUV on an icy road, ordering her to exit. As she begins to maneuver the vehicle, an agent fires multiple rounds into the driver's side, striking her in the head. Her vehicle then crashes into a parked car.

Federal officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, defended the agent's actions as self-defense, claiming Good "weaponized her vehicle" in an attempt to run over officers — an "act of domestic terrorism." Noem stated the agent feared for his life and noted recent vehicle ramming incidents against federal personnel.

President Donald Trump echoed this narrative in statements and an Oval Office interview with The New York Times, where he viewed the video and described the scene as "terrible" and "horrible to watch." However, he insisted Good "behaved horribly," adding, "She ran him over. She didn’t try to run him over. She ran him over." Trump emphasized he did not want anyone shot but condemned attempts to "run over policemen."

Bystander videos and eyewitness accounts have contradicted claims that an officer was struck or injured, showing the agent walking away unharmed. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called the federal narrative "bullshit" in a fiery press conference, demanding ICE "get the fuck out of Minneapolis" and accusing the agency of sowing "chaos and distrust." Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz urged peaceful protests while warning against "propaganda," and local leaders rejected suggestions Good was interfering aggressively.

Good, a widowed mother of three who recently moved to Minneapolis with her partner, was not the target of any ICE arrest, according to city officials. Her mother described her as "loving, forgiving and affectionate," and not involved in confrontations. Public schools in Minneapolis canceled classes for the remainder of the week amid safety concerns.

The incident unfolded amid the Trump administration's deployment of 2,000 federal agents to the Twin Cities — described as the largest ICE operation ever — targeting alleged fraud in social programs. Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Ilhan Omar and Sen. Tina Smith, condemned the shooting and called for investigations, while some Republicans backed the self-defense claim.

Protests spread to other cities, with vigils and demonstrations planned nationwide. The FBI and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating. As Minneapolis grapples with renewed unrest, community leaders plead for peace while demanding accountability and an end to federal raids.

17GEN4.com