A private autopsy has determined that Renee Good, an unarmed US citizen and mother killed by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis earlier this month, was shot three times. The findings, released late on Wednesday, reveal she was struck in her forearm, breast, and head, with the head wound being fatal.
Autopsy Details and Family Investigation
The independent postmortem was commissioned by lawyers in Chicago representing Good's family and reported by ABC7 News. Described as preliminary, it identified three clear gunshot wounds on the 37-year-old's body. Two shots were not immediately life-threatening: one hit her left forearm, and another entered through her right breast but missed major organs.
A third shot struck the left side of her head near the temple and exited on the right side, as detailed by the New York Times. The report also noted a graze wound consistent with a firearm injury without penetration. The family's attorneys, Romanucci and Blandin, have declined to release the full report but stated they are continuing to gather evidence in a civil investigation into her death.
Incident Reports and Political Fallout
The autopsy findings align with initial incident reports, including 911 call transcripts, which documented two apparent gunshot wounds to the right side of her chest and a possible gunshot wound to the head. Good was acting as a legal observer during a surge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Minneapolis, according to relatives, and her death has heightened tensions in the city.
It has sparked a conflict between the Trump administration and local officials. The White House and Department of Homeland Security have repeatedly labelled Good a "domestic terrorist," claiming she aimed her car at the ICE agent, who fired in self-defense. However, multiple video clips show Good steering away from the agent as she attempted to drive away, with at least two shots fired from the side.
Federal Response and Lack of Investigation
State officials are frustrated over being excluded from an FBI inquiry, with federal authorities focusing on Good's widow and Democratic Minnesota leaders, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, rather than the officer who killed her, Jonathan Ross. The Justice Department has stated that available video evidence "cleared" Ross and that no criminal investigation is underway.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasised on Fox News that the Department does not initiate investigations based solely on political pressure. This stance has led to a wave of federal prosecutors resigning in protest. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of the victim and supported an escalation of ICE enforcement activities, which have resulted in violent clashes and arrests of US citizens and children.
Ongoing Developments and Political Visits
Vice-President JD Vance is expected to visit Minneapolis and defend Donald Trump's decision to deploy 3,000 federal law enforcement officers to the area. This move is likely to further inflame the situation, as community members and activists continue to call for justice and transparency in the investigation into Good's death.
The case underscores broader issues of immigration enforcement, police accountability, and political divisions in the United States, with implications for civil rights and public safety in Minneapolis and beyond.
