Beaufort, January 15, 2026
Over 350 people gathered in Beaufort to protest the recent fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent. The rally was part of a nationwide movement, calling for justice and accountability after Good’s tragic death. Demonstrators expressed their concerns over federal immigration enforcement actions and their consequences, joining thousands nationwide in solidarity.
Beaufort
Community Rises in Protest Following Fatal ICE Shooting
More than 350 individuals gathered on Saturday, January 10, in Beaufort to protest the recent fatal shooting of Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis. The demonstration, held in front of Beaufort City Hall at the intersection of Boundary Street and Ribaut Road, was part of a “National Day of Action” organized to demand justice and accountability for the incident.
The protest in Beaufort, organized on short notice, underscored a national sentiment expressing concern over the actions of federal immigration enforcement. This local gathering joined an estimated 1,000 events planned nationwide over the weekend following Good’s death.
Details of the Minneapolis Incident
On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 37-year-old Renee Good, an American citizen, was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Good, described as a poet, writer, and mother of three, was killed while in her car on Portland Avenue South.
Conflicting Accounts of the Shooting
Federal law enforcement officials, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), have defended the agent’s actions, stating that Ross acted in self-defense after Good allegedly attempted to run him over with her vehicle. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that Agent Ross suffered internal bleeding to his torso after being struck by Good’s vehicle. This account has been described by DHS as Good “weaponiz[ing] her vehicle” and an “act of domestic terrorism”.
However, this narrative has been contested by eyewitnesses, journalists, and Democratic Party lawmakers, who claim that videos of the incident contradict the official statement. Eyewitnesses indicated that Good posed “no threat” to the agents. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have also disputed ICE’s version of events, with Mayor Frey calling the self-defense argument “garbage” and asserting the agent was not run over. Videos of the incident reportedly show Agent Ross positioned to the side of Good’s vehicle as he fired three shots, with her wheels turned away from him.
Agent Jonathan Ross, a member of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Special Response Team, had a prior incident six months ago where he was reportedly dragged by a car during an arrest in Bloomington, Minnesota. Some current and former ICE agents have privately expressed concerns about Ross’s conduct and the agency’s operations in Minneapolis.
Victim Profile
Renee Good was identified by the Minneapolis City Council as a city resident who was “out caring for her neighbors” when her life was taken. Her mother, Donna Ganger, denied that her daughter was actively participating in protests against ICE, describing her as “extremely compassionate,” “loving, forgiving and affectionate,” and “an amazing human being”. Good had lived in Minneapolis with her wife and six-year-old child, having previously relocated to Canada with her partner and family after the 2024 presidential election, and then moving to Minneapolis. She was also described as a poet and writer. State and local officials, including Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison and United States representative Ilhan Omar, suggested Good was acting as a legal observer of ICE’s activities at the time of the incident.
Nationwide Outcry and Calls for Accountability
“ICE Out For Good” Movement
Following Renee Good’s death, protests quickly spread across the United States. The “ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action” saw at least 1,000 events coordinated by Indivisible, a progressive grassroots coalition. Demonstrators in various cities carried signs and chanted “ICE out now!” demanding accountability and an end to what they termed “deadly ICE lawlessness and cruelty”. Protests also occurred in Minneapolis, with crowds gathering at the scene of the shooting and outside the Whipple Federal Building, which serves as ICE’s local headquarters.
Political and Legal Reactions
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have urged ICE to cease its operations in Minneapolis. Governor Walz also prepared the National Guard for deployment if needed and committed additional state law enforcement resources to aid local authorities. Three Democratic Congress members from Minnesota were reportedly denied access to an ICE facility in Minneapolis.
The FBI is currently investigating the shooting of Renee Good. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) was initially involved in a joint investigation with the FBI but was later denied access to case materials, scene evidence, and investigative interviews. Good’s partner, parents, and four siblings have retained the legal services of Romanucci & Blandin, the same firm that represented George Floyd’s family, to seek answers and accountability. The firm stated its intention to release information from its investigation in the coming weeks. The U.S. Justice Department has indicated it sees no basis to open a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting. Some reports suggest the Department of Justice has pushed to investigate Good’s widow while appearing reluctant to investigate the agent involved.
Ongoing Tensions and Recent Developments
Tensions in Minneapolis remain high following the events. On January 14, 2026, a man was reportedly shot in the leg by ICE agents in Minneapolis following a traffic stop and an altercation. This second shooting occurred amidst the ongoing unrest and increased federal law enforcement presence in the city. The Trump administration had deployed approximately 2,000 agents from ICE to the Twin Cities area.
Mayor Frey has continued to urge protesters to remain peaceful, stating, “We cannot counter Donald Trump’s chaos with our own brand of chaos”. Federal agents have used aggressive crowd control tactics, including pepper balls, chemical irritants, and stun grenades, against demonstrators in Minneapolis.
Key Features of the Minneapolis ICE Incident and Aftermath
| Feature | Description | Geographic Scope | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victim | Renee Good, 37-year-old American citizen, poet, writer, mother of three | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Killed on January 7, 2026 |
| ICE Agent Involved | Jonathan Ross, member of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Special Response Team | Minneapolis, Minnesota | January 7, 2026 |
| Nature of Incident | Fatal shooting by an ICE agent during an enforcement operation. Conflicting accounts between federal self-defense claims and eyewitness/official disputes. | Minneapolis, Minnesota | January 7, 2026 |
| Local Protest (Beaufort) | More than 350 people gathered in front of Beaufort City Hall to protest the killing. | Beaufort, South Carolina | January 10, 2026 |
| Nationwide Protests | Over 1,000 “ICE Out For Good” events coordinated by Indivisible, demanding justice and accountability. | Nationwide | January 10-11, 2026 |
| Political Response | Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz dispute federal narrative and call for ICE to leave the city. Trump administration defends agent. | State-level, Minneapolis | Ongoing since January 7, 2026 |
| Legal Action | Renee Good’s family retained Romanucci & Blandin, the law firm that represented George Floyd’s family. FBI investigation ongoing. | Nationwide (legal firm), Minneapolis (investigation) | Ongoing since January 14, 2026 (family retaining firm) |
| Subsequent Incident | Another man shot in the leg by ICE agents during an enforcement operation. | Minneapolis, Minnesota | January 14, 2026 |
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Author: STAFF HERE BEAUFORT
The HERE Beaufort Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Beaufort community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background: Local Roots in Beaufort : Our team includes lifelong Beaufort residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sale of the historic Crofts Block Building, Beaufort’s equestrian heritage, and growth in local tech and education sectors (e.g., BeaufortTechnical College programs). Collective Experience: With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality: Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
