Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has proclaimed a statewide “Day of Unity” to honor
Renee Nicole Good, the 37-year-old woman shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) officer in south Minneapolis, as tensions, grief and calls for
accountability continue to mount.[1][2]

ICE Operation Ends in Fatal Shooting

The shooting occurred Wednesday morning in a residential neighborhood of south
Minneapolis during an ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) action.[1][2]
According to federal officials, Good allegedly attempted to run over law enforcement
officers with her vehicle, prompting an ICE agent to fire.[2]

A senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official identified the officer who
fired as Jonathon (Jonathan) Ross, a member of a Special Response Team within ICE’s
Enforcement and Removal Operations.[1] Ross is part of a tactical unit that conducts
high-risk operations, and court records show he was injured in a separate incident
about six months earlier, when he was dragged by a car while attempting an arrest in
Bloomington, Minnesota.[1]

In Wednesday’s case, DHS has alleged that Good used her vehicle as a weapon, a claim
that has been strongly challenged by state leaders who say they have seen video of the
encounter.[1][2]

Walz Proclaims ‘Day of Unity’ in Renee Good’s Honor

In response to the shooting and the community’s growing anguish, Gov. Walz on Thursday
proclaimed Friday as a “Day of Unity” across Minnesota to honor Good’s life.[1]
The proclamation urges Minnesotans to observe a moment of silence at 10 a.m. and to
use the day to connect with neighbors, support one another and engage in acts of
service in her memory.[1]

Walz described the day as an opportunity for Minnesotans to grieve collectively while
refusing to be pushed toward violence or division. He has repeatedly framed the
state’s response as a test of democratic resilience and community solidarity, saying
the nation may be looking to Minnesota to “hold the line on democracy” and
accountability.[2]

Governor: ‘Don’t Believe This Propaganda Machine’

Walz has sharply criticized DHS’s version of events and signaled that state officials
have access to evidence that conflicts with the federal narrative. He said he has seen
video of the shooting and openly disputed claims that Good tried to ram officers with
her car.[1]

“Don’t believe this propaganda machine,” Walz said, accusing federal authorities of
pushing a story that does not match what he viewed on video.[1] He pledged that the
state would pursue a “full, fair, and expeditious investigation” and vowed his
administration would “stop at nothing to seek accountability and justice” for Good’s
death.[1]

The governor has activated the State Emergency Operations Center and notified the
Minnesota National Guard to be prepared to help protect public safety in
Minneapolis.[1][4] State officials have emphasized that this step is precautionary and
aimed at ensuring demonstrations can remain peaceful while authorities investigate.

Investigation Handed to State Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

Walz has directed the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to lead an
independent investigation into the shooting.[1] The BCA routinely investigates police
use-of-force incidents in the state and is expected to review video evidence, officer
statements and forensic findings.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said his office is monitoring the case and
underscored that anyone who broke the law in connection with the shooting must be held
accountable.[1] Ellison noted that his role could include reviewing the BCA’s findings
for potential charges, a process similar to previous high-profile law enforcement
cases in Minnesota.

Federal Officials Defend Officer’s Actions

While state officials question DHS’s account, federal figures aligned with the Trump
administration have publicly defended the ICE officer.[2] DHS maintains that Good was
attempting to run over officers with her car when she was shot, and allies of the
administration have described the shooting as self-defense.[2]

Conservative commentator J.D. Vance, speaking in support of the administration’s
position, said the officer “defended himself” and asserted that Good died because she
“tried to ram somebody with her car.”[2] Vance additionally claimed, without
providing evidence, that Good was part of a “left-wing network” targeting ICE
officers, a statement he acknowledged would need to be substantiated.[2]

So far, DHS has not released the full video of the incident, and advocates, state
leaders and community members are demanding transparency.

Peaceful Vigils, Heavy Emotions in Minneapolis

In the hours after the shooting, residents gathered for a vigil near the scene to
mourn Good and call for justice.[2] Walz praised the vigil as a “beautiful” and
peaceful tribute, saying Minnesotans showed how to channel grief into solidarity
rather than destruction.[2]

The vigil and subsequent demonstrations have unfolded under a heavy emotional cloud in
a city still scarred by the 2020 murder of George Floyd and other controversial
encounters between law enforcement and residents. Protesters, civil rights groups and
immigrant advocates have drawn connections between the ICE shooting and broader
concerns about policing, surveillance and the treatment of communities of color.

Walz has repeatedly appealed for calm, urging demonstrators to “rise up” in defense of
democratic values but to do so nonviolently. “They want a show. We can’t give it to
them,” the governor said, warning Minnesotans not to “take the bait” of unrest that
could be used to justify an expanded federal law enforcement presence.[1][2][3]

Coordination Questions and Political Fallout

The shooting has also reignited friction over how federal immigration enforcement
operates in local communities. Walz and other state Democrats say local law
enforcement received no meaningful coordination or advance notice about the ICE
operation that ended with Good’s death.[3]

In pointed remarks, Walz criticized the federal approach as “totally predictable” and
“totally avoidable,” arguing that lack of coordination and the deployment of tactical
units into neighborhoods increase the risk of tragedy.[3] Minnesota Democratic leaders
have gone further, telling federal agents aligned with the Trump administration to
“leave our state immediately” and accusing the administration of using aggressive
immigration enforcement to provoke confrontation.[3]

The clash over the shooting comes amid a broader national fight over immigration
policy and the role of states in responding to federal enforcement tactics. For
Minnesotans, the case has quickly become a focal point in debates about the limits of
federal power, the accountability of armed agents operating in local jurisdictions and
the political use of public safety narratives in an election year.

Community Demands: Transparency, Justice and Reform

Community organizations and civil rights groups are now pressing for several key
steps: release of all available video footage, a thorough and independent
investigation by state authorities, and a reassessment of how and when ICE tactical
teams operate in Minnesota neighborhoods.[1][2]

Advocates say Good’s killing echoes a pattern of deadly encounters involving heavily
armed officers and civilians in routine settings, such as traffic stops or residential
arrests. They argue that increased transparency, de-escalation, and tighter oversight
of joint operations between federal and local agencies are needed to prevent future
deaths.

For many residents, the “Day of Unity” is both a memorial and a demand. The moment
of silence for Renee Good, they say, must be followed by concrete actions: a full
accounting of what happened, legal consequences where warranted, and lasting reforms
to how enforcement agencies wield power in Minnesota communities.

Walz’s Message: Grieve, Organize, but Stay Peaceful

As investigations proceed, Walz is asking Minnesotans to channel their anger into
civic action rather than confrontation. He has urged residents to attend vigils,
speak out, and “wrap your arms around your neighbors,” while avoiding tactics that
could lead to further violence or give fuel to those seeking unrest.[1][2]

“Minnesotans, again, don’t give them the unrest that they want,” Walz said.[2]
“Peacefully express your First Amendment, your constitutional rights, and let’s start
healing.”[2]

Whether the “Day of Unity” can ease tensions in Minneapolis will depend largely on
how swiftly and transparently authorities share findings about Good’s death—and on
whether the community believes that this time, accountability will follow outrage.