Renee Good Shooting: From Incident to Justice Pursuit

Renee Good, an unarmed woman, was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7, 2026, in Minneapolis, prompting her family—partner, parents, and siblings—to hire Chicago civil rights attorney Antonio M. Romanucci of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, 

the firm that represented George Floyd's family. Co-counsel Kevin Riach from Minneapolis joined, alongside team members Bhavani Raveendran and Martin Gould. 

Romanucci described Good as striving to "Be Good" to her family and community, vowing to honor her by seeking accountability.

Incident and Immediate Outcry

The shooting occurred as Good slowly drove away, with no one in harm's way, according to early reports including a fire department analysis revealing multiple deadly wounds. 

Romanucci called it a killing of "the best of the best" by an agent tasked with the "worst of the worst," questioning escalation from verbal exchange to gunfire: 

"When someone says to you, 'I'm not mad at you,' you don't escalate the situation from zero to 100." 

He expressed doubts about the FBI's secretive criminal probe into Ross, demanding transparency amid government reluctance to share details like body camera footage or agent history.

Launch of Civil Investigation

On January 13-14, 2026, the legal team announced a parallel civil investigation to build evidence for accountability, sharing findings on a rolling basis despite FTCA complexities.

This precedes any lawsuit, as federal suits require exhausting administrative remedies. 

Key goals target wrongful death via excessive force, negligence, and failure to aid, alleging deviation from ICE protocols.

Administrative Claim Process Under FTCA

The process begins with evidence gathering led by the plaintiffs' team, including attorneys Antonio Romanucci, Kevin Riach, Bhavani Raveendran, and Martin Gould. 

They conduct interviews, hire experts for use-of-force analysis, pursue public records, and review available footage or autopsy reports to counter government opacity.

Next, the family files Standard Form 95 (SF-95) directly with DHS or ICE, specifying the January 7, 2026 incident, wrongful death injuries, and damages sought, all within the two-year statute of limitations. 

The agency—coordinating with DOJ or the U.S. Attorney's Office—then investigates internally, potentially interviewing agent Jonathan Ross and examining body camera footage.

Within six months, ICE/DHS responds: they may settle the claim, issue an outright denial, or allow a "deemed denial" if no decision is made, enabling the lawsuit to proceed. 

If denied, plaintiffs can appeal administratively to build a stronger record, though no formal discovery occurs at this stage. 

This structured sequence ensures exhaustion of remedies before federal court access.

Transition to Federal Lawsuit

Post-denial, suit names the "United States" in U.S. District Court (Minnesota), applying state tort law (negligence, wrongful death) in bench trial. 

Discovery unlocks interrogatories, depositions of Ross and officials, policy/training records, and videos—enforceable by motions to compel against privileges.

Bivens Claims and Qualified Immunity Hurdles

Parallel Bivens actions target Ross individually for Fourth Amendment violations, but Egbert v. Boule (2022) narrows viability for federal agents. 

Qualified immunity bars liability unless conduct violates "clearly established" law a reasonable officer would know, per Saucier/Pearson two-step: (1) Constitutional violation? (2) Clearly established by prior precedent?

Judicial Determination of Immunity

Agent Ross moves to dismiss (FRCP 12(b)(6)) or summary judgment (FRCP 56); District Judge rules early as law matter, viewing facts favorably to plaintiffs. 

Denial prompts 8th Circuit interlocutory appeal, halting discovery. Factual disputes go to jury first, judge applies law; Trump-era DOJ (post-2025) bolsters defenses amid immigration priorities.

Broader Pressures and Gaps

Political context includes congressional oversight (e.g., Rep. Omar), public mourning of Good as a "beautiful light," and FBI criminal probe yielding Brady material.

Evidentiary voids persist: full body cam, Ross's history, wound trajectories. Romanucci affirms resolve: "This process will not deter us from fervently pursuing justice."

As Renee Good's family navigates these formidable legal hurdles, their pursuit embodies a relentless quest for truth and reform in federal accountability.

Through strategic investigation, public advocacy, and courtroom tenacity, they aim not only to secure justice for Good but to illuminate systemic flaws in ICE operations, ensuring her legacy drives meaningful change for communities nationwide.