The Record of the Officer Who Killed Renée Nicole Good

By Cliff Potts, CSO, and Editor-in-Chief of WPS News
January 12, 2026
New York, New York

Introduction

Federal officials want the public to believe the killing of Renée Nicole Good was a tragic split-second decision made by an under-pressure officer. The available record tells a different story.

The ICE officer who shot Good was not inexperienced, not poorly trained, and not new to enforcement. He was a veteran federal agent with years of service, combat experience, and instructor-level training. That background matters—because when a trained professional kills an unarmed civilian, accountability cannot be waved away as panic or mistake.

This article lays out what is known about the shooter, his career, and the prior incident already tied to his name.

The Shooter Identified

Multiple national outlets and court records identify the shooter as Jonathan Ross, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer assigned to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Minnesota.

Federal authorities initially declined to release his name, even as they publicly defended his actions. His identity emerged through prior court proceedings and reporting tied to earlier enforcement operations.

Ross was working in the Twin Cities region at the time of the shooting.

Not a Rookie, Not Under-Trained

Ross’s own sworn testimony and reporting establish a long, specialized enforcement career:

  • Military service: Indiana National Guard; deployed to Iraq (2004–2005).
  • Border enforcement: U.S. Border Patrol near El Paso, Texas (2007–2015), including intelligence-focused assignments.
  • ICE career: Joined ICE in 2015 as an ERO deportation officer in Minnesota, assigned to fugitive operations.
  • Advanced roles: Described himself in court testimony as a firearms instructor, active-shooter instructor, field intelligence officer, and member of a SWAT-style Special Response Team.
  • Interagency work: Served as a team lead working alongside other federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

This is not the profile of an officer learning the job. It is the profile of someone entrusted to train others.

The Prior Incident: June 17, 2025 (Bloomington, Minnesota)

Ross’s name entered public court records following a June 2025 ICE operation in Bloomington, Minnesota.

According to testimony and reporting:

  • Ross participated in an arrest attempt involving unmarked federal vehicles.
  • He broke a vehicle window with a spring-loaded punch and reached inside the car.
  • The vehicle accelerated, dragging Ross before he deployed a Taser.
  • Ross later testified to suffering significant injuries requiring extensive medical treatment.

Why this matters now:
Federal officials have repeatedly pointed to this earlier incident to frame Ross as an officer operating under heightened threat awareness. That framing is political cover—not a substitute for accountability.

During later court proceedings related to the 2025 incident, defense attorneys challenged Ross’s testimony, noting inconsistencies and late-introduced claims. Prosecutors acknowledged on the record that at least one disputed detail could be grounds for impeachment.

That does not prove dishonesty—but it does place credibility squarely at issue.

The Renée Good Killing

On January 7, 2026, Ross shot and killed Renée Nicole Good during an ICE operation in Minneapolis.

Key facts now widely reported:

  • Multiple videos and eyewitness accounts contradict the initial federal narrative.
  • Footage reviewed by independent journalists does not clearly show an imminent threat at the moment shots were fired.
  • Federal officials publicly defended Ross before releasing full evidence or completing an independent investigation.
  • Body-camera policies for ICE officers remain inconsistent and opaque, limiting public verification.

When an officer with advanced firearms and tactical training fires under disputed circumstances, the standard of review must be higher—not lower.

Why His Background Matters

Federal agencies have leaned heavily on the phrase “according to training.” That defense collapses under scrutiny when the officer involved was himself a trainer.

If this killing reflects ICE training and doctrine, the public deserves to see that doctrine in full:

  • Use-of-force rules
  • Firearms decision matrices
  • Vehicle-interdiction policies
  • Psychological and fitness-for-duty evaluations after prior violent encounters
  • After-action reports from both the 2025 and 2026 incidents

Secrecy is not safety. It is liability management.

The Accountability Question

This was not an accident involving an inexperienced agent. It was a fatal use of force by a veteran federal officer with combat experience and instructor credentials.

That fact alone demands:

  • Independent review outside DHS
  • Full public release of video, radio traffic, and reports
  • A prosecutorial decision made without federal conflict of interest

Anything less is institutional self-protection.

APA References

Associated Press. (2026). Federal shooting of Minneapolis woman sparks national protests.
Reuters. (2026). ICE officer identified through court records after fatal shooting.
WIRED. (2025–2026). Court testimony and credibility disputes involving ICE enforcement officer.
Al Jazeera. (2026). Protests spread nationwide after ICE killing.

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