The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who shot and killed a mother-of-three during an operation in Minneapolis has been publicly identified for the first time.
Agent and Victim Identified
Jonathan E. Ross, a 43-year-old Iraq war veteran and Enforcement and Removal Operations agent, was named as the officer who fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on Wednesday afternoon. The shooting occurred as Good was driving her SUV on a street where ICE agents were on duty.
Ross, who goes by Jon, has served as an immigration officer since at least 2013 and has lived on the outskirts of Minneapolis since 2015. He is married to a woman whose parents are from the Philippines; the couple wed in August 2012.
Father Defends Son's Actions
In an exclusive interview, Ross's 80-year-old father, Ed Ross, defended his son's decision to use lethal force. "She hit him," the elder Ross stated. "He also had an officer whose arm was in the car. He will not be charged with anything."
He described his son as a "committed, conservative Christian, a tremendous father, a tremendous husband," adding, "You would never find a nicer, kinder person. I couldn't be more proud of him." Ed Ross confirmed his daughter-in-law is a US citizen but declined to elaborate on her immigration history.
Conflicting Accounts and Political Divide
The incident has sparked fierce controversy, with starkly different narratives from authorities and witnesses. ICE claims Good deliberately drove her burgundy SUV at agents, attempting to use it as a deadly weapon. However, witnesses and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have disputed this account, with Frey dismissing the ICE version as false.
Footage from the scene shows Good blocking the road before reversing after an agent tried to open the driver's door. Three shots were fired. Good's vehicle then lost control, crashing into parked cars and a light pole. The SUV's windscreen showed a clear bullet hole.
The political reaction has been deeply partisan. The Trump administration has defended Ross's actions. In contrast, Democratic officials in Minneapolis have labelled the shooting a murder and demanded ICE leave Minnesota. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has stated agents will remain.
Ross's personal politics have also come under scrutiny. Neighbours described him as a hardcore MAGA supporter who until recently flew pro-Trump and 'Don't Tread On Me' flags. This contrasts with his family connections; his wife is a first-generation American, and social media shows her engaging with Spanish-language culture.
Further family tensions were revealed through a 2020 Facebook exchange where Ross's sister, Nicole, posted a mask condemning white supremacy. Comments indicated a disagreement with Ross over the far-right Proud Boys group.
Aftermath and Ongoing Protests
Renee Good and her wife, Rebecca, are understood to have fled the US for Canada after Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, later settling in Minneapolis. They have a six-year-old child together. In harrowing footage, Rebecca Good appeared to blame herself, saying she "made [Renee] come down here" to the ICE protests.
Ross was previously involved in a June incident where he was reportedly "dragged" by a car driven by an undocumented immigrant suspect, a detail confirmed by both Secretary Noem and Vice President JD Vance.
Protests have continued in Minneapolis following the shooting, with clashes between demonstrators and police. The case has become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement, with state and local officials calling for ICE's removal from the area as investigations continue.
