An FBI officer who attempted to investigate the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent responsible for fatally shooting Renee Good has resigned from their position, according to a new report from The New York Times. This development comes amid growing controversy surrounding the circumstances of Good's death and the subsequent political fallout.
The Fatal Incident and Initial Response
Renee Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three children, was shot multiple times by ICE agent Jonathan Ross earlier this month in Minneapolis. The shooting occurred while Good was behind the wheel of her vehicle, sparking immediate outrage and prompting mass protests against President Donald Trump's aggressive deportation policies.
Tracee Mergen, a supervisor within the FBI's Minneapolis field office, reportedly attempted to initiate a civil rights inquiry into Ross's actions. However, Mergen has now resigned from the bureau following significant pressure from leadership in Washington, D.C., who allegedly sought to have the case dropped entirely.
Political Reactions and Administration Defense
The Trump administration has vigorously defended Ross's actions, with President Trump previously claiming on social media that Good "viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self defense." The president further asserted that such incidents occur because "the Radical Left is threatening, assaulting, and targeting our Law Enforcement Officers and ICE Agents on a daily basis."
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has strongly contested these self-defense claims, describing them as "bulls***" and stating his belief that "this was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying." The Independent contacted both the FBI's National Press Office and the Minneapolis field office for comment, but both declined to discuss personnel matters.
Justice Department Investigation and Local Backlash
Simultaneously with the reported efforts to halt the investigation into Good's shooting, the Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to at least five prominent Democratic officials in Minnesota. This includes Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Frey, as federal authorities appear to be examining whether state and local leaders conspired to obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Governor Walz responded to this development with a strongly worded statement, declaring that "This Justice Department investigation, sparked by calls for accountability in the face of violence, chaos, and the killing of Renee Good, does not seek justice. It is a partisan distraction."
Mayor Frey echoed these concerns on social media platform X, warning that "When the federal government weaponizes its power to intimidate local leaders for doing their jobs, every American should be concerned."
Prosecutorial Resignations and Family Testimony
The New York Times has additionally reported that several top prosecutors in Minnesota resigned last week due to the Justice Department's refusal to investigate Ross and its subsequent demand to examine Good's widow, Becca. According to people familiar with the matter, this created an untenable situation for these legal professionals.
Becca Good provided crucial context about the day of the shooting, explaining that she and her wife had stopped to support their neighbors during an ICE operation on January 7. "We had whistles," Becca stated in an interview with MPR News. "They had guns." This testimony underscores the dramatic power imbalance present during the encounter that resulted in Renee Good's death.
The resignation of the FBI officer attempting to investigate this case represents a significant development in an ongoing national conversation about law enforcement accountability, immigration enforcement practices, and the appropriate boundaries of federal authority in local jurisdictions.
