Family of Renee Nicole Good remembers her as 'beautiful light' after deadly ICE shooting
MINNEAPOLIS (TNND) — The family of Renee Nicole Good -- the 37-year-old Minneapolis woman who was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on January 7 -- released a statement honoring her life, as well as their love for her.
"We want to thank everyone who has reached out in support of Renee and our family," Good's parents, Tim and Donna Ganger, along with her four siblings, said in the statement. "The kind of unending care we’ve been given during this time is exactly the kind that she gave to everyone."
The National News Desk obtained the statement on Wednesday, which marked one week since her death. The statement was accompanied by two photos, with one showing Good smiling and holding up a coffee cup, while the other showed her with her brother, Brent Ganger.
Her loved ones described Good, who was known affectionately as "Nae-Nae," as the 'beautiful light of our family."
"We all already miss her more than words could ever express," they said.
They also acknowledged the difficulty of expressing their grief, but said they continue to feel Good's presence in everyday moments, including "the tight hug we offer each other" as they mourn, the shared laughter as they "recall sweet memories," and in the creative flow of passion she inspired.
"Her voice is the one singing the song stuck in your head," they said. "More than anything, she is there when your heart breaks and fills for another person. When we remember Nae, we remember her abundant heart, and we will move forward imitating that unending care."
Good’s family said she was a devoted friend, caregiver and protector who embraced life fully -- celebrating their joys and comforting them in times of sorrow.
“She was our best friend with a seemingly infinite capacity for love,” according to the statement.
As an FBI-lead investigation into her death continues, her family said they are focused on remembering her as she was: loving, generous and full of joy.
Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis during a federal immigration enforcement action that has sparked protests and political debate.
The agent, who has been identified as Jonathan Ross, fired his gun after Good allegedly tried to ram him and other officers with her SUV. Ross reportedly suffered internal bleeding when he was hit by her vehicle.
Citing an unnamed official with the Department of Homeland Security, Fox News confirmed the news.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey previously said the ICE agent walked away from the scene with a hip injury.
"Watch the video from every single angle," Frey said during a news conference on Friday. "I mean, the ICE agent walked away with a hip injury that he might as well have gotten from closing a refrigerator door with his hips. He was not injured. I've seen worse injuries from doing that. And so give me a break. No, he was not ran over. He walked out of there with a hop in his step."
Vice President JD Vance said the agent acted in self-defense. Vance, who also called the shooting a tragedy, added that Good "tried to run someone over with her car and the guy defended himself when that happened."
The vice president said while it is reasonable to question whether she was panicking "when she drove into this officer" or if she was actually trying to ram him, he added that the officer "had every reason" to fire his gun.
"I don't know what was in her heart and what was in her head, but I know that she violated the law and I know that officer was acting in self-defense," Vance said on Thursday.
