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Renee Good’s family filed two federal civil lawsuits on October 1, 2026, over her fatal shooting in Minneapolis. One names the United States and alleges wrongful death under Minnesota law; the other names ICE officer Jonathan Ross and federal officials and alleges a civil-rights conspiracy. Those are allegations in complaints, not court findings.
What happened to Renee Good
Good was shot and killed by ICE officer Jonathan Ross on January 7, 2026, while she was in an SUV in Minneapolis, according to the Associated Press (AP report). AP’s description of bystander video says Good’s vehicle turned away from an officer in front of it as he fired, followed by two more shots near the driver-side window. Federal officials have said Ross acted in self-defense. The competing accounts and the legal justification for the shooting have not been decided in the lawsuits.
What are the two lawsuits about?
| Case | Defendants | Legal basis described in reporting | What the family says it addresses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrongful-death case | The United States alone | Wrongful death under Minnesota law, brought through the Federal Tort Claims Act process | Conduct surrounding the January 7 shooting |
| Civil-rights case | Ross and federal officials | Alleged conspiracy to interfere with civil rights, invoking the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act | The family’s allegations about why agents were in the area and the broader immigration operation |
The comparison reflects how the claims were described by CBS Minnesota, MPR News and AP at filing; the complaints’ theories have not been upheld by a court (CBS Minnesota; MPR News; AP).
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The suit against the United States
CBS Minnesota reports that the first complaint names only the United States and alleges wrongful death under Minnesota law. It lists battery, assault, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence. The outlet says the claim proceeds under the Federal Tort Claims Act, the process for claims against the federal government. CBS reported that the government may take up to six months to decide its response; that was a procedural explanation at filing, not a report that the government had responded.
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The suit against Ross and federal officials
The second complaint names Ross and officials including Stephen Miller, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Tom Homan and Gregory Bovino, according to the reporting. The family alleges that officials and agents conspired to interfere with civil rights and targeted Somali and Hispanic communities. MPR News says the complaint invokes the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act. That is the family’s legal theory, not a ruling that the statute applies or that the alleged conduct occurred.
The complaint also connects the shooting to Operation Metro Surge. That connection is the family’s framing of the case, as reported by AP and MPR News, rather than an established finding about the operation or the shooting.
What the family and its lawyers said
At the lawsuit announcement, family attorney Antonio Romanucci said, “Our government has become a grave and mortal threat to its own citizens.” Good’s brother Brent Ganger said, “The time is absolutely now for accountability for the deep damage done by ICE and others,” according to AP (AP).
Attorney Benjamin Berkman described the cases as addressing distinct questions: “The first is about what happened on Portland Ave. on Jan. 7 … The second is about why Jonathan Ross and those agents were on Portland Avenue to begin with,” CBS Minnesota reported (CBS Minnesota).
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about the cases’ status
The reports cited here cover the October 1 filing, not later court action. They do not establish that a judge has ruled on either case or that any allegation has been proven. University of St. Thomas law professor Rachel Moran told AP the cases were complicated and said, “They’re going to face significant uphill battles.” She also said she could not predict how they would play out (AP).
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