DOJ Refuses to Probe ICE Agent's Fatal Shooting of Renee Good, Confirms Investigation into Minnesota Officials

 

Short Summary 

The US Department of Justice announced it will not investigate the ICE agent who fatally shot Minneapolis mother Renee Nicole Good on January 7, 2026, claiming the officer acted in self-defense. Deputy AG Todd Blanche stated no probe is warranted despite public outrage and questions over delayed medical aid. Meanwhile, the DOJ confirmed it's probing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly encouraging interference with federal agents during anti-ICE protests. Good's family has launched a civil investigation.

Long Summary 

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed on January 19, 2026, that the Department of Justice will not launch a federal investigation into the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who shot and killed 37-year-old Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good on January 7.

Speaking on Fox News, Blanche emphasized that the DOJ's civil rights unit does not investigate every officer-involved incident, particularly when an officer is "forced to defend himself." He noted that widely circulated cellphone footage of the shooting has been reviewed extensively and insisted no probe is currently appropriate. The Trump administration maintains that agent Jonathan Ross fired in self-defense after Good, a mother of three, was in her car during an immigration operation.

Independent analysis by Minnesota Public Radio and APM Reports raised unanswered questions, including why CPR was allegedly delayed over 10 minutes, why Good was left alone bleeding for nearly three minutes, and why agents reportedly turned away a physician offering aid.

The decision comes amid escalating protests in Minneapolis against aggressive ICE raids involving nearly 3,000 agents. Top Trump officials, including Vice President JD Vance and adviser Stephen Miller, have asserted "absolute immunity" for ICE actions. Good's family lawyers announced a private civil investigation, with attorney Antonio Romanucci stating the public demands accountability for her death after dropping her child at school.

In a separate development, Blanche confirmed reports that the DOJ is investigating Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly encouraging protesters to impede federal officers—a potential violation of laws against obstructing law enforcement.

Frey called the probe "obvious intimidation" for defending local residents against federal "chaos," while Walz decried it as "weaponizing the justice system" against political opponents, comparing it to probes into other Democrats.

The announcements intensify tensions in Minnesota, where protests have led to injuries, a detainee death in custody, and Pentagon preparations for possible troop deployment. As outrage grows, the case highlights deepening divides over immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.