Who Was Renee Nicole Good, the Woman Shot Dead by ICE — 5 Key Facts

On a snowy Minneapolis street, a routine weekday morning ended in tragedy, and a life that had quietly touched literature, family, and community activism suddenly became the focus of national attention.

Authorities have confirmed that the woman fatally shot and killed during an encounter with federal immigration officers was Renee Nicole Macklin Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who had only recently begun building a life in Minnesota.

As investigations continue into the shooting involving an officer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, fragments of Good's personal story have emerged, revealing a multifaceted life shaped by creativity, caregiving, and reinvention. Below are five key facts about Good, whose death has sparked grief, questions, and renewed scrutiny of federal law enforcement actions.

She Was an Award-Winning Poet

Long before her name appeared in national headlines, Good was already known in literary circles for her writing. In April 2020, she won the ODU College Poetry Prize, an honor administered through Old Dominion University’s MFA Creative Writing Program in partnership with the Poetry Society of Virginia.

At the time, Good, then publishing under the name Renée Macklin, was recognized for a poem, "On Learning to Dissect Fetal Pigs," that judges praised for its layered reflections on memory, belief, and the human body. Her work had also appeared in literary outlets, including Metrosphere and Coronado Literary Review.

Her award-winning poem, "On Learning to Dissect Fetal Pigs," later republished following her death, underscores her distinctive voice and introspective style.

She Was a Mother of Three

Beyond her creative life, Good was a devoted parent. According to Politico reporting, she had three children: a daughter and a son from her first marriage, now ages 15 and 12, and a 6-year-old son from her second marriage.

Her former father-in-law, Timmy Ray Macklin Sr., told the Star Tribune that Good shared a child with his late son and that the boy now has no one else in his immediate household.

"There's nobody else in his life," Macklin said. "I'll drive. I'll fly. To come and get my grandchild." He added that Good's two older children were believed to be living with extended family members.

She Hosted a Podcast with Her Husband

Good's creative pursuits extended beyond poetry. She also co-hosted a podcast with her second husband, Timmy Ray Macklin Jr., who died in 2023, according to a report.

Friends and family members have described that period of her life as one marked by collaboration, humor, and shared creative energy, even as she navigated the responsibilities of raising children.

She Held Multiple Jobs and Volunteered as a Legal Observer

In recent years, Good had primarily been a stay-at-home mother, her ex-husband told Politico. However, her work history reflected a wide range of roles. She had previously worked as a dental assistant and at a credit union.

According to another report, a LinkedIn profile that appears to belong to Good also lists experience in real estate investment, property management, and renovation.

She also volunteered as a legal observer, a role often filled by activists who attend police actions to document law enforcement behavior. Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar described Good in that capacity following the shooting.

She Was New to Minneapolis

Good had only recently moved to Minnesota when she was killed. According to Politico, she relocated to Minneapolis from Kansas City, Missouri, last year and was still settling in.

Reportedly, she described herself on social media accounts as a "poet and writer and wife and mom," adding that she was currently "experiencing Minneapolis."

Her ex-husband, who asked not to be named out of concern for their children's safety, said Good had just dropped off her 6-year-old son at school that Wednesday morning. She was driving home with her current partner when they encountered a group of ICE agents on a snowy street, moments before the shooting that would end her life.

As federal investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the fatal encounter, Good's story has come into sharper focus, not just as a name in a police report, but as a poet, a mother, and a woman still finding her place in a new city when her life was abruptly cut short.

As this story outlined who Good was and the life she was building in Minneapolis, we previously reported on how her death has reverberated through her family and community and the growing dispute over the authorities' account of what led to the fatal shooting.

The family of the deceased mother, wife, and poet, is reeling in grief after she was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis. Good, originally from Colorado Springs, was killed just blocks from her home — a place she had recently moved into with her partner.

Bloodied Widow Breaks Down After Brutal Shooting

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, a woman identified as Good's wife was seen in a state of utter devastation. Covered in blood, she reportedly cried out, "They shot her in the head. I have a 6-year-old in school." Distraught and panicked, she added, "I made her come down here, [sic] it's my fault. They just shot my wife."

Her harrowing words echoed through the neighborhood as bystanders looked on, stunned by the sudden burst of violence that claimed a life and shattered a family.

Victim's Mother Remembers Kind Daughter

Good's mother, Donna Ganger, confirmed her daughter's identity and shared heartfelt memories of who Good was beyond the headlines. "Renee was one of the kindest people I've ever known," she said. "She was extremely compassionate. She's taken care of people all her life. She was loving, forgiving and [sic] affectionate. She was an amazing human being."

"She was probably terrified," Ganger added of her daughter's killing. She also clarified that Good was never a part of any protest affiliations against ICE agents.

A passionate creative, Good once described herself on social media as a "poet and writer and wife and mom and [expletive] guitar strummer from Colorado; experiencing Minneapolis, MN."

In 2020, while studying creative writing at Old Dominion University, she received the university's undergraduate poetry prize for her work titled "On Learning to Dissect Fetal Pigs." She also co-hosted a podcast with her then-husband, the late Timmy Ray Macklin Jr., who passed away in 2023 at just 36 years old.

A Grandfather Speaks Out

Timmy Ray Macklin Sr., Good's former father-in-law, expressed deep sorrow upon learning of her death. His son and Good shared a child who is now six years old. "There's nobody else in his life," he expressed. "I'll drive. I'll fly. To come and get my grandchild."

He also noted that Good had two additional children, believed to be living with extended family. In the days following the tragedy, neighbors and friends spoke warmly about Good and the life she was building with her family in Minneapolis.

Friends and Neighbors Remember Renee as a Beacon of Love

Mary Radford, a 27-year-old neighbor, recalled seeing Good and her young son outside often, playing with Radford's Australian shepherd, Hazelnut.

"It's a beautiful family. They have a son. He's very sweet. He loves our dog," Radford said through tears. "We're gonna miss seeing them — forever. It is so painful to think about how he's gonna fare in his life. And I just can't even imagine what that family is going through."

Others echoed Radford's sentiments. Megan Kocher, who had recently met Good and her wife, remembered being welcomed into their home with tea and cookies. "[She] was such a warm and loving mother. This is tragic beyond words," Kocher wrote on social media.

Vigil Defies Official Narrative

At an evening vigil, community leaders and mourners gathered to honor Good's life. Jaylani Hussein, executive director of CAIR-MN, shared, "She was peaceful, she did the right thing."

Another speaker pushed back against official narratives, saying Good was present on Portland Avenue on Wednesday "to watch the terrorists," rejecting the notion that she posed a threat.

The tragedy has left a ripple of heartbreak in its wake for a family newly settled into their neighborhood, for a mother taken too soon, and for a little boy whose world has been turned upside down.

As the investigation continues, the community remains steadfast in remembering Good not for the way her life ended, but for the warmth, creativity, and compassion she brought to those who knew her. "She died because she loved her neighbors," Hussein said — a sentiment now etched into the hearts of all who mourn her.

The killing occurred on January 7, 2026, and while authorities claimed Good was threatening, video and witness accounts suggested otherwise, sparking outrage and calls for accountability.

ICE Operation Ends in Deadly Gunfire

As reported by KARE 11, the incident occurred at the intersection of 34th Street and Portland Avenue in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE agents were conducting "targeted operations" when they were allegedly confronted by individuals attempting to interfere.

DHS spokesperson and assistant secretary for public affairs Tricia McLaughlin said a woman "weaponized her vehicle" and tried to run over officers. She added:

"An ICE officer fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow officers and the lives of the public, fired defensive shots, used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers. The alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased. Thankfully, the ICE officers who were hurt are expected to make full recoveries."

A video shared online shows a burgundy SUV surrounded by law enforcement agents. Gunshots are heard before the vehicle crashes into a light pole. A bullet hole is visible in the driver's side windshield. Two parked cars appear to have been struck.

A witness told the same news outlet that the woman seemed to be fleeing from ICE agents when she was shot. The scene quickly filled with law enforcement and shocked neighbors.

Minnesota State Senator Omar Fateh stated on X that he received reports of a doctor being prevented by federal agents from administering lifesaving CPR.

Fateh, along with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, several city council members, and faith leaders, visited the scene shortly after the shooting.

As investigators work to determine what happened on that snowy street, Good's story endures not only in official reports but in her words, her family's grief, and a community's insistence that her life and her death be fully accounted for.