BREAKING: Renee Good’s family sues federal government, immigration agents over fatal shooting

Renee Good’s family filed two lawsuits Thursday against the federal government and immigration agents for her fatal shooting during Operation Metro Surge. 

Good’s siblings, parents and widow, Becca Good, were expected to speak at a news conference this morning announcing the suits. It would be Becca Good’s first public appearance since the Jan. 7 shooting, according to Romanucci & Blandin, the Chicago-based law firm representing Good’s family.

Good, 37, a Minneapolis resident and mother of three, was killed at 34th Street and Portland Avenue in south Minneapolis while observing immigration enforcement activity.

What the lawsuits allege

Becca and Good’s brother, Brent Ganger, filed two lawsuits alleging her wrongful death and conspiracy to violate civil rights. 

One suit filed against the United States of America alleges Good’s wrongful death under a Minnesota statute predicated on battery, assault, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence. 

The lawsuit is filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act, which allows individuals to sue the U.S. government in federal court for personal injury, death or property damage.  

It says that Ganger brings this suit “to recover for the immense suffering Renee endured in the final moments of her life”; and from Becca “to recover for the severe emotional distress, and its attendant physical manifestations, that the agents’ conduct has inflicted upon her.”

The lawsuit also details the events that led to her fatal shooting that morning and claims that the agents’ action violated the Fourth Amendment and U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s own policies.

Another lawsuit was filed against Ross, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, political operative Corey Lewandowski, border czar Tom Homan, former acting ICE director Todd Lyons, former Border Patrol leader Gregory Bovino, and ten other federal agents identified as “John Doe.”  

It alleges several counts, including conspiracy to deprive Somali Hispanic residents equal protections under the law. The suit accuses Ross of using excessive force. It lists several claims under Minnesota tort law, including wrongful death, battery, assault and false imprisonment.

Case history

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and Minnesota Attorney General’s Office are investigating Good’s killing, but no criminal charges have been filed in state or federal court against the immigration agent who shot Good.

Good’s mother, Donna Ganger, testified in front of Congress last week with family members of other victims killed by federal immigration agents. Stella Carlson, a bystander who filmed the Jan. 24 killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, also testified. 

“We need action. We need accountability. We need this never ever to happen again and destroy another family or a community,” Ganger testified. 

Good’s older brother, Brent Granger, also testified. 

“In the days since my sister’s death, ICE agents have continued to intimidate, assault, hurt, and kill innocent people,” he testified. “Since Renee’s death, no meaningful changes occurred.” 

Attorneys representing Good’s family are conducting a civil investigation into the shooting, and filed a motion in April to retrieve the Honda Pilot she was driving when she was killed. 

Taking legal action against the federal government is a long, complex process, and “always challenging” because state and local law enforcement officers have “many immunities,” according to a Jan. 14 statement from Antonio Romanucci, one of Good’s attorneys. 

“This process will not deter us in any way from fervently pursuing justice on behalf of Renee Good,” said Romanucci’s Jan. 14 statement. 

According to the motion to recover Good’s vehicle: Good and Becca dropped off their 6-year-old daughter at school on Jan. 7 and were driving home when they stopped to observe federal agents in their neighborhood. Good stayed in the driver’s seat as Becca exited the vehicle to film the agents. As bystanders recorded videos at the scene, Good motioned for other vehicles to pass her vehicle, which was parked in the middle of the street.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Ross exited his vehicle and started filming with his phone. He walked in front of Good’s vehicle as she started to turn her vehicle to the right away from Ross and slowly moved forward, according to the motion. 

“Ross was at no point in danger from the vehicle,” read the motion. “Notwithstanding the absence of any threat, Ross drew his gun and fired at least three times at Renee.” 

Then-U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called Good a “domestic terrorist,” and blamed Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for refusing to cooperate with federal officials on immigration enforcement. 

Becca described Good as someone who showed up for others as a “volunteer, a mom, a friend” in a Feb. 7 statement released by her attorneys.

“Renee was not the first person killed, and she was not the last,” Becca’s February statement said. “You know my wife’s name and you know Alex’s name, but there are many others in this city being harmed that you don’t know — their families are hurting just like mine, even if they don’t look like mine. They are neighbors, friends, coworkers, classmates. And we must also know their names. Because this shouldn’t happen to anyone.” 

Other ICE fatalities, injuries

At least 58 people have died in ICE custody and at least 20 people have been shot since the start of the second Trump administration, according to lawmakers at last week’s congressional hearing. Two other Minneapolis residents were killed during Operation Metro Surge.

Julio Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan man, was shot and wounded in the leg by ICE agent Christian Castro on Jan. 14 in North Minneapolis. Sosa-Celis and his roommate, Alfredo Aljorna, were charged and taken into federal custody. City surveillance video that captured the shooting contradicted Castro’s claims that he was attacked by Sosa-Celis, Aljorna and a third man with a broom and shovel. The federal charges against Sosa-Celis and Ajlorna were dismissed.

The U.S. Department of Justice charged Castro in May with allegedly lying about the shooting. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office charged Castro on May 18 with four counts of second-degree assault using a dangerous weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime in the shooting.

Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, was shot and killed by multiple federal agents on Jan. 24 on Nicollet Avenue. Videos that captured the shooting showed that agents tackled Pretti to the ground and shot him after he tried to help a woman who had been pushed down by an agent.

The Hennepin County Attorney and Minnesota Attorney General’s offices are investigating all three shootings, and filed a lawsuit in mid-March against the federal government for refusing to release evidence in the cases. Federal officials agreed six months later to release some evidence to local officials. 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

The post BREAKING: Renee Good’s family sues federal government, immigration agents over fatal shooting appeared first on Sahan Journal.

Originally reported by Sahan Journal by Katelyn Vue. Read the full story at the source.