Minneapolis, Minnesota – Minnesota authorities say they are unable to independently investigate the fatal shooting of Renee Good, citing federal control of the case as public scrutiny and demands for accountability continue to intensify.
Good, 37, was shot and killed Wednesday during an encounter with federal agents in Minneapolis. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office said it was not involved in the shooting and arrived afterward to help secure the scene. The sheriff’s office said it has since received hundreds of calls and messages from residents demanding a county-led investigation.
In a public statement, Sheriff Dawanna Witt said her office cannot conduct an independent review without access to physical evidence, body-camera footage, witness interviews, and investigative files, all of which remain under federal authority. The FBI is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
“This limits our ability to provide the independent review the public is asking for,” the sheriff’s office said, warning that investigations conducted entirely within federal agencies risk undermining public trust.
Federal officials have not publicly identified the agent who fired the fatal shot. However, records obtained by The Associated Press identify the shooter as Jonathan Ross, an ICE deportation officer and Iraq War veteran who has served nearly two decades in military and federal law enforcement. Ross has worked with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement since 2015 and has served in specialized enforcement roles.
Officials in the Trump administration, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, have defended the agent, saying he acted according to his training after believing Good posed an immediate threat. Video of the incident has circulated publicly and raised questions about whether the shooting was justified, prompting protests and calls for criminal charges.
Civil rights advocates and community leaders say the inability of state or local authorities to fully investigate a fatal shooting involving federal agents highlights broader concerns about oversight, transparency, and accountability. Demonstrations have taken place in Minneapolis, with protesters calling for murder charges and greater limits on federal law enforcement operations within local communities.
Good was a mother, and a fundraiser for her family has raised more than $1.5 million, according to organizers.
The FBI said the investigation remains ongoing. No charges have been filed.
