Hundreds of people gathered in Minneapolis on Wednesday evening, January 7, 2026, for a solemn vigil and a protest following the fatal shooting of a driver by a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent earlier that day. The incident has ignited outrage and spurred demonstrations in multiple U.S. cities.
Details of the Fatal Shooting and Conflicting Narratives
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified the victim as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good. The shooting occurred during federal law enforcement operations in Minneapolis, part of a surge of hundreds of federal officers into Minnesota under the Trump administration. DHS claimed the agent fired in self-defense, alleging Good attempted to run the agent over.
This official account was swiftly challenged. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey publicly dismissed the DHS claim as "bullshit." Video evidence from bystanders, reported by HuffPost, appears to contradict the federal narrative. The footage reportedly shows Good reversing her vehicle, turning to leave, and pulling forward when the agent opened fire.
U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) stated that Good, a U.S. citizen, was present as a "legal observer" of ICE's actions, adding a layer of gravity to the incident.
Community Outpouring and Nationwide Solidarity
As night fell, a large crowd convened near the shooting site on Portland Avenue for a vigil. Attendees placed flowers and candles to memorialize Good and chanted slogans such as, "Say it once. Say it twice. We will not put up with ICE."
"I’m sad, but I’m mostly furious," said Noah, an organizer with the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice, who spoke at the demonstration. "I want to extend my deepest condolences... to the family of Renee Good. They lost someone who truly cared... and ICE took that today. Shame!"
Speakers at the gathering called for unity and continued efforts to protect community members targeted by immigration operations. The protests occurred against a backdrop of the Trump administration's vocal concerns about alleged fraud and repeated disparagement of Somali people in the state.
Protests Erupt From Coast to Coast
The anger was not confined to Minnesota. Solidarity protests denouncing the shooting were held in several other major cities on the same day.
- In New York City, protesters rallied at Foley Square in Manhattan. Signs carried by attendees featured strong statements, with some labeling ICE as "Trump’s Gestapo" and asking agents, "How Can You Sleep At Night."
- In Chicago, community activists gathered at the Little Village Arch. They expressed solidarity with Minneapolis and demanded accountability for Good's death, according to CBS News reports.
The nationwide response underscores the deep tensions surrounding federal immigration enforcement tactics and the immediate demand for transparency and justice in the wake of Renee Good's death.
