ICE Agent Shoots Venezuelan Man in Minneapolis Amid Tensions

A Department of Homeland Security agent shot a Venezuelan man in the leg in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning after the man attacked the officer. The shooting took place amid ongoing protests over the killing of Renee Macklin Good, a local woman shot dead by an ICE agent one week earlier. Demonstrators have filled the streets, leading to clashes with federal agents.

Background

Renee Macklin Good, a 37-year-old mother of three and American citizen, died on January 7, 2026, after ICE agent Jonathan Ross fired three shots at her SUV on Portland Avenue South in Minneapolis. The incident happened around 9:37 a.m. near East 33rd and 34th Streets, a few blocks from her home. Good had stopped her vehicle sideways in the street during what DHS called an ICE operation that got stuck in snow.

ICE agents approached her car. They told her to get out and one reached into the open driver's window to open the door. As Good started driving forward and turning away, Ross moved to the front-left of the vehicle. He fired the first shot through the windshield. Then he fired two more shots through the open driver's side window as the SUV passed him. Video from the scene shows the entire sequence happened in under one second.

Eyewitnesses gave different accounts. One said an agent stepped in front of the car, yelled stop, and shot her through the windshield while she was already moving. Another described the car backing up slowly, pulling forward slowly, then hearing shots before it sped off. Emergency services arrived six minutes later. They pulled Good from the vehicle, gave CPR on the street, and took her to Hennepin County Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said Good had been stalking and impeding ICE agents all day. She claimed Good attacked them and tried to run them over, so the agent shot in self-defense to protect himself and others. But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said video footage shows no such thing.

"Having seen the video myself, I want to tell everybody directly that is bullshit," Frey said. "To ICE, get the fuck out of Minneapolis."

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Frey both said the videos contradict the DHS account. A New York Times analysis found no agents, including Ross, were in the path of Good's car. Ross went to the hospital that day and was released, but later reports said he had internal bleeding to the torso.

Good grew up in Virginia, graduated from Old Dominion University in 2020 with an English degree, and won a poetry award there. She had recently moved to Minnesota with her wife and three children. Her wife described her as someone who nurtured kindness. Old Dominion President Brian Hemphill mourned her as a proud alumna and called for leaders to restore civility amid rising fear and violence.

Protests started right after the shooting. Demonstrators shouted at ICE agents near a local elementary school where neighbors stood guard during student drop-off. Tensions boiled over, with clashes between crowds and federal agents. Minneapolis police called in mutual aid from nearby areas to handle possible unrest. Walz declared January 9 Renee Good Day. County prosecutor Mary Moriarty and Attorney General Keith Ellison asked for videos, photos, and witness accounts to build a state investigation. They said it was too early to know if they could charge Ross.

Noem announced Operation Salvo days later to boost ICE in New York City. Journalist Jake Tapper questioned her claim that Good tried to run over agents, saying it did not match what everyone saw. Noem stood by her statement.

Key Details

The new shooting happened Wednesday, one week after Good's death. DHS said an ICE officer came under attack by a Venezuelan man. The agent shot him in the leg. Details on the man's identity, condition, or exact location remain limited. It occurred as protests raged on.

The ICE Operation

ICE was in Minneapolis for what Noem called a surge. Agents got stuck in snow and called backup. Locals reported heavy ICE activity near schools and homes. Good's encounter started when her SUV blocked them. Ross, keeping his phone in his left hand, drew his gun and fired quickly.

Past incidents add context. Good is at least the fifth person killed in Trump administration immigration actions. No agents have faced charges in those cases. Ross had a prior run-in with an anti-ICE protester in June.

Protests have drawn hundreds. Some threw objects at agents. Federal teams used less-lethal rounds and barriers. Police in riot gear stood by. No major injuries reported yet, but streets closed and businesses shut early.

What This Means

The leg shooting raises questions about ICE tactics in protest zones. DHS frames both incidents as self-defense against threats. Local leaders see a pattern of overreach. Frey and Walz demand ICE leave. Moriarty's office weighs state charges against Ross, needing more evidence.

Protests show deep divides over immigration enforcement. Good's death sparked outrage among residents who view ICE as aggressive. Her background as a poet, mother, and citizen fuels calls for accountability. Noem pushes back, tying it to protecting agents.

Federal and state probes run parallel. Minneapolis bolsters police presence. Schools adjust schedules amid fears. Good's family mourns while pushing for justice. Her wife released a statement on her kindness and the pain of loss.

Tensions could spread. Operation Salvo hints at wider ICE moves. Eyewitness videos keep circulating, shaping public view. Officials urge calm but expect more clashes. The city watches for charges or policy shifts. Good's case tests limits of federal power in local streets. Agents face scrutiny on use of force. Protesters demand end to operations. All sides dig in as investigations continue.