A poet and activist was shot and killed by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, in an incident that has drawn immediate parallels to the murder of George Floyd due to its proximity and nature.
A Deadly Confrontation During Protest
Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old poet, mother, and writer, was identified as the victim by her family. The fatal shooting occurred on January 8, 2026, as protests unfolded against a large-scale deportation operation. Ms Good, reportedly a member of the activist group ICE Watch, was sitting in her 4x4 vehicle which was used to block agents.
Video footage from the scene shows officers surrounding her car and shouting profanities, ordering her to exit. As she appeared to be turning away and complying with commands, an officer fired three shots. She was struck in the head, causing her vehicle to crash into a telephone pole. Eyewitnesses have stated she was attempting to drive away, not escalate the situation.
Political Firestorm and Condemnation
The response from former President Donald Trump was swift and controversial. On his Truth Social platform, he claimed the woman was "very disorderly" and had violently run over an ICE officer, justifying the shooting as self-defence. He blamed the "radical left" for threatening agents.
This stance was forcefully condemned by Democratic figures, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Having viewed the video, Governor Walz urged the public not to believe "propaganda" and promised a "full, fair, and expeditious investigation." The brutal act has provoked condemnation across the United States.
Echoes of George Floyd's Murder
The shooting took place just one mile from the location where George Floyd was murdered by police on May 25, 2020. Floyd's death, caused by an officer kneeling on his neck for over eight minutes, ignited a global movement against police brutality and systemic racism.
Trump's response to Floyd's killing was markedly different, calling for "law and order" while acknowledging the family's right to justice. The proximity of this latest killing has underscored persistent national tensions around law enforcement accountability and immigration enforcement tactics.
The ripple effects of Floyd's murder were profound, revitalising the Black Lives Matter movement and sparking worldwide protests, policy debates on police funding, and a cultural reckoning—a legacy against which this new tragedy is now being measured.
