Renee Good’s family sues U.S. government, ICE officer and top Trump officials over her killing

The family of Renee Good has filed two federal civil lawsuits alleging wrongful death and excessive force, their attorney announced Thursday, nine months after an immigration officer fatally shot her in Minneapolis.

One lawsuit seeks to hold the United States liable under the Federal Tort Claims Act for the actions of federal agents. It alleges wrongful death, battery, assault, false imprisonment, emotional distress and negligence.

The second suit names Jonathan Ross, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who shot Good, as well as several federal officials, including White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

“I stand here with fierce determination to do what is right for my sister, for her children, and for our country — and that is to insist on accountability,” Good’s brother, Brent Ganger, said in a statement. “What happened to her on January 7th and what has happened to far too many people in the last year is not what America is about. We can and must do better, and the Constitution must be the roadmap back to decency and the rule of law.”

The Department of Homeland Security and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A representative for Ross could not immediately be identified.

Good, 37, was fatally shot in the driver’s seat of her SUV during a Jan. 7 encounter with Ross. The killing occurred about a month after the Trump administration deployed 3,000 immigration agents to the Twin Cities in what officials have dubbed Operation Metro Surge. Agents descended on Minnesota after right-wing influencers drew attention to a state fraud scandal involving Somali nationals.

The operation triggered massive protests and significant pushback from state leaders. It ended in February.

The shooting was captured on cellphone video. It showed Good’s partner, Becca Good, standing outside the SUV calling Ross “big boy” and telling him to remove the covering from his face. Other officers at the scene could be heard telling Good to get out of the car. In the video, Good is seen turning the steering wheel away from Ross and beginning to drive.

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Multiple gunshots can be heard in the video before Good’s SUV crashes into a parked car. In a separate video recorded by Ross, a male voice could be heard saying “f-----g b----” moments before the crash.

Trump administration figures, including President Donald Trump and Noem, defended Ross’ actions and claimed Good was an agitator who tried to run over the officer with her vehicle. Witnesses told NBC News at the time that Ross didn’t appear to be in the direct path of the SUV.

Noem said Ross was treated at a hospital for injuries he sustained in the incident and was released soon after. A DHS official previously told NBC News that Ross sustained internal bleeding but did not elaborate on his injuries.

Attorney Antonio M. Romanucci, who is representing Good’s family, said he hopes the lawsuits “are the beginning of the ultimate legal weapon in uncovering the truth behind this unlawful use of deadly force and the nefarious conspiracies behind the invasion of American cities by American law enforcement officers.”

Weeks after Good’s killing, Customs and Border Protection agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, in Minneapolis.