Federal officials investigating Renee Good’s partner
WASHINGTON — Federal authorities are investigating whether Becca Good, the partner of Renee Nicole Good, may have impeded a federal officer moments before an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis, according to two people familiar with the investigation who spoke to NBC News.
The federal probe into the shooting by ICE officer Jonathan Ross has increasingly focused on Becca Good, including what officials describe as her possible connections to activist groups. Investigators are placing less emphasis on Ross’ actions when he fired into Renee Good’s vehicle during an immigration operation last week, the sources said.
The killing has sparked protests in Minneapolis and renewed calls for accountability for immigration officers. Since September, ICE enforcement actions have resulted in at least 10 other shootings.
Antonio Romanucci, Becca Good’s attorney, said Saturday that “there has been no contact from the FBI or federal officials indicating Becca Good is the subject of an investigation.”
The Justice Department is also examining whether Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey conspired to impede federal immigration enforcement through public statements criticizing ICE tactics, according to a senior law enforcement official and another person familiar with the matter. Both Democratic officials said the inquiry is politically motivated. Frey said he would not be intimidated.
“The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her,” Walz said.
The Justice Department declined to comment on the investigations.
FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X that agents were in Minneapolis “cracking down on violent rioters and investigating the funding networks supporting the criminal actors,” adding that multiple arrests had already been made.
The investigations follow a December memo from Attorney General Pam Bondi identifying “domestic terrorism” as a top Justice Department priority, including investigations into groups with what the memo described as an “anti-fascist platform” that justifies violence.
The memo listed potential statutes for charging individuals aligned with extremist movements, citing views on immigration, gender ideology, and anti-American sentiment combined with a willingness to use violence.
According to people familiar with the case, the inquiry into Becca Good centers on a federal statute covering the assault, resistance, or impeding of federal officers.
President Donald Trump last week described Renee and Becca Good as “professional agitators,” without providing evidence. Shortly after the shooting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Renee Good’s actions constituted “domestic terrorism.”
At the same time, the Justice Department has largely stepped back from policing accountability efforts, closing pattern-or-practice investigations into police departments accused of civil rights violations, including the Minneapolis Police Department following the murder of George Floyd.
The handling of the case has caused turmoil within the Justice Department. Six federal prosecutors in Minneapolis resigned this week, citing ethical concerns. One of them, Joe Thompson, had led a fraud investigation that was referenced as justification for sending immigration officers to the city.
David Kelley, a former federal prosecutor in Minnesota, called the resignations the “darkest day for federal law enforcement” in his career.
“When career prosecutors feel compelled to resign because they’re asked to act against their conscience, that’s a very sad day for justice,” Kelley said.
Video of the shooting shows officers surrounding Renee Good’s SUV amid honking cars, sirens, and protesters blowing whistles. Ross approaches the front of the vehicle, and Good is heard telling him, “That’s fine, dude, I’m not mad at you.” Another officer orders her out of the car.
As Ross steps toward the front of the SUV, Becca Good appears to say, “Drive.” Renee Good turns the steering wheel to the right, away from the officer, and begins to move forward. Ross can be heard shouting and then firing multiple shots. A male voice later says, “f—–g bitch.”
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said there is “currently no basis” for a criminal civil rights investigation into Ross. The Department of Homeland Security has launched internal reviews, though Minneapolis officials have expressed concern about their independence, noting that Noem has already said the officer acted according to training.
“This vehicle was used as a weapon,” Noem said a day after the shooting. “The officer believed his life was in danger and acted to protect himself and others.”
Sam Trepel, a former Civil Rights Division attorney, said the department’s decision not to pursue a civil rights investigation risks deepening public mistrust.
“You need a real, credible investigation,” Trepel said. “The idea that the rule of law isn’t being protected is deeply troubling.”
Thomas Brzozowski, the Justice Department’s former domestic terrorism coordinator, warned that labeling the incident “domestic terrorism” without clear statutory grounding is dangerous.
Under the Bondi memo, he said, authorities could launch a wide-ranging investigation into individuals connected to the victim, including those who may have provided protest training.
A former FBI agent said the bureau’s domestic terrorism unit — significantly reduced after its work on the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack — would normally need to approve such a probe.
Local officials say the FBI excluded them from the federal investigation. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said she intends to conduct a parallel inquiry and decide independently whether charges are warranted.
Moriarty has opened a public portal for evidence submissions and is seeking a report from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which initially responded to the scene.
“Our goal is accountability and transparency,” she said.
Kyle Seraphin, a conservative former FBI agent critical of the Justice Department’s Jan. 6 investigations, said it was wrong to label Renee Good a domestic terrorist, even if the shooting may ultimately be deemed legally justified.
“She was a human being with a family,” Seraphin said. “A mother not being able to raise her children is a tragedy, regardless of politics.”
CLARIFICATION (Jan. 17, 2026): Becca and Renee Good were partners but not legally married, according to a spokesperson for their attorney. An earlier statement referred to them as spouses.
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