At a Glance
- Federal investigators are examining Becca Good for allegedly impeding an ICE officer before he fatally shot her wife, Renee Good, in Minneapolis.
- The probe centers on possible activist ties rather than officer Jonathan Ross‘ actions.
- Six federal prosecutors resigned this week over the case’s direction.
- Why it matters: The shift in focus has ignited protests and raised questions about accountability for immigration officers involved in at least 10 shootings since September.
Federal authorities are scrutinizing Becca Good, widow of Renee Good, to determine whether she hindered an immigration officer moments before he shot and killed her wife during a Minneapolis operation, according to two sources who spoke to News Of Philadelphia. The investigation-run by the Justice Department-has pivoted toward Becca Good’s alleged connections to activist groups, while less attention is placed on ICE officer Jonathan Ross‘ decision to open fire.
Antonio Romanucci, Becca Good’s attorney, stated Saturday that “there has been no contact from the FBI or federal officials indicating Becca Good is the subject of an investigation.”
The case has triggered street protests and demands for transparency. Critics note that immigration officers have been involved in at least 10 shootings nationwide since September.
Widening Probe
Separately, the department is reviewing whether Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey conspired to obstruct federal agents through public comments condemning ICE tactics. A senior law-enforcement source and a second person familiar with the matter confirmed the inquiry; both Democratic officials call the move political retaliation.
“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 politicians but did not respond to questions about Becca Good.
“Domestic Terrorism” Label
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X that agents in Minneapolis are “cracking down on violent rioters and investigating the funding networks supporting the criminal actors with multiple arrests already.”
The shift follows a December memo from Attorney General Pam Bondi that labels countering “domestic terrorism” a top priority, including groups “with an anti-fascist platform that justifies violence.” The memo, obtained by News Of Philadelphia, lists statutes investigators could use against “Antifa-aligned extremists” motivated by “extreme viewpoints on immigration, radical gender ideology, and anti-American sentiment.”
Investigators are weighing the first statute cited-assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers-against Becca Good, the sources said.
Last week, President Donald Trump called Renee and Becca Good “professional agitators,” offering no evidence. Moments after the shooting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem declared Renee Good’s actions “domestic terrorism.”
Internal Fallout
The department has largely abandoned prior civil-rights oversight, closing so-called pattern-or-practice inquiries into police departments, including Minneapolis’s after George Floyd’s murder.
The new direction prompted the resignation of six federal prosecutors in Minneapolis this week. One of them, Joe Thompson, had led a fraud investigation cited as part of the reason ICE officers were deployed to the city.
David Kelley, a former federal prosecutor not among the six, called the resignations the “darkest day for federal law enforcement in my 51 years of practicing law.”
Video Evidence
Footage shows cars honking, sirens wailing, and protesters blowing whistles. Officer Ross walks to the front of Renee Good’s SUV. “That’s fine, dude, I’m not mad at you,” Good, a mother of three and U.S. citizen, tells him. Another officer orders her out.
As Ross faces the front, Becca Good appears to say, “Drive.” Renee Good turns the wheel right, away from Ross, and starts moving. Ross shouts what sounds like “whoa” and fires multiple shots. A male voice later says: “f—–g bitch.”
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said this week there is “currently no basis” for a Civil Rights Division case against Ross. Internal reviews continue within the Department of Homeland Security, yet Minneapolis leaders question the rigor of such probes, especially after Noem stated the officer followed training.
“This vehicle was used to hit this officer,” Noem said. “It was used as a weapon, and the officer feels as though his life was in jeopardy.”
Eroding Trust
Sam Trepel, a former Civil Rights Division attorney now at States United Democracy Center, noted the division historically eases community tension through thorough investigations.
“You need to do a real, credible investigation,” she said. “The idea that they’re not out there protecting the rule of law is scary and painful.”
Thomas Brzozowski, the department’s former domestic-terrorism counsel, told News Of Philadelphia it is “super dangerous” for DOJ to use the term “domestic terrorism” beyond its statutory framework. Under the Bondi memo, he added, authorities gain wide latitude to probe “those that were connected to the victim and her spouse,” including protest-training providers.
The FBI’s domestic-terrorism unit-already weakened after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol investigation-must normally approve broader terrorism probes, a former agent said. Local officials say the bureau has excluded them from the shooting inquiry.
Local Response
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty hopes to gather enough evidence to decide herself whether Ross should face charges. In her final year and not seeking re-election, Moriarty claims parallel authority and has launched an online portal for videos or tips. She wants the Minneapolis Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to share its findings.
“We want community members to feel as though there is documentation and perhaps accountability,” Moriarty said.
Kyle Seraphin, a conservative former FBI agent who criticized the Jan. 6 investigation, called labeling Good a “domestic terrorist” awful, even if the shooting appears justifiable.
“We don’t have to agree politically to say that a mother not being able to raise her child is bad,” Seraphin told News Of Philadelphia.
Key Takeaways
- The federal inquiry has shifted from the shooter to the victim’s spouse, spotlighting possible protest ties.
- Multiple prosecutors quit, warning the case undermines justice norms.
- Local officials are pursuing independent reviews to fill the accountability gap.
