What We Know About ICE Agent Jonathan Ross

The ICE agent who fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026, has been identified by multiple news outlets as Jonathan Ross, a veteran federal law enforcement officer with a long history of military and border security service.

Who Is Jonathan Ross?

Although Homeland Security did not publicly name him initially due to safety concerns, court records and reporting have confirmed his identity.

Ross, 43, served in the Indiana National Guard and was deployed to Iraq in 2004–2005 as part of a machine-gun patrol team before transitioning to civilian law enforcement. He joined the U.S. Border Patrol in 2007 and later moved to ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in 2015, where he worked as a deportation officer based in Minnesota.

Extensive Training and Career Background

According to court testimony and public reporting, Ross’s duties extended beyond basic arrest work:

• He was part of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, helping coordinate high-risk fugitive apprehension.
• He served as a firearms instructor and active shooter instructor.
• He was a field intelligence officer and a member of tactical units like the St. Paul Special Response Team.
• He had experience leading complex operations involving surveillance, planning, and coordination.

Homeland Security officials defended Ross as an experienced officer, stating he “acted according to his training” and had a long record of federal service.

Previous Incident and Federal Defense

Ross’s background includes a June 2025 incident in Bloomington, Minnesota, when federal agents attempted to apprehend a suspect wanted on an immigration warrant. During that operation, Ross broke a window to open a vehicle door, became caught and dragged by the fleeing driver, and sustained serious injuries requiring dozens of stitches. Prosecutors and federal officials have cited that prior event when defending Ross’s actions in Minneapolis, with figures like Vice President J.D. Vance describing him as deserving of gratitude for his service.

Despite the federal defense, critics note that the video reviewed by independent news outlets does not clearly show Good attempting to run over Ross or other agents, raising questions about the justification for deadly force.

The Minneapolis Shooting

On the morning of January 7, Ross approached Good’s SUV during a federal immigration enforcement operation in south Minneapolis. Good, who was unarmed and a mother of three, was struck and killed after Ross fired into her vehicle as she drove away from the scene. The incident was captured on multiple phones, and footage shared online showed Good turning away from agents — a point local officials have highlighted in dispute with federal claims.

The FBI now leads the investigation; Minnesota authorities were pushed aside, raising concerns about transparency and independent oversight.

Public and Political Response

Ross’s identity and actions have become a flashpoint:

• Protesters in Minneapolis and beyond have demanded accountability and called for charges against him.
• Democratic political leaders, including Representative Ilhan Omar, criticised Ross’s positioning in front of Good’s moving vehicle and urged public filming of federal agents for accountability.
• Law enforcement and use-of-force experts have also questioned whether shooting into a moving vehicle is aligned with best practices.

Federal figures, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and President Donald Trump, defended Ross’s actions, calling them justified and framing the encounter as self-defense, even as videos and local officials dispute that narrative.

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