DOJ Declines Federal Probe Into ICE Agent Who Killed Renee Good
The Justice Department declined a federal civil-rights probe into ICE agent Jonathan Ross after the Jan. 7 Minneapolis shooting that killed Renee Good, drawing criticism.
Overview
FBI agents in Minnesota reportedly recommended a civil-rights investigation into Jonathan Ross after an initial review, but Justice Department officials later halted or reversed that federal inquiry.
Deputy AG Todd Blanche publicly said the shooting did not warrant federal investigation, while DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and President Trump defended Ross as acting in self-defense.
State prosecutors in Minnesota, including AG Keith Ellison and Hennepin County DA Mary Moriarty, have promised local investigations and criticized DOJ's decision to withhold evidence.
At least a dozen DOJ prosecutors reportedly resigned over pressure to investigate Good's widow and local officials instead of pursuing the agent's actions.
Public reaction is sharply divided; polls show majority view the shooting as unjustified, while officials cite cellphone footage and training to argue Ross's actions were reasonable.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story skeptically toward official exonerations, emphasizing video ambiguity, poll results showing public doubt, and calls for transparency. Their editorial choices—loaded labels (e.g., 'domestic terrorism'), repeated highlighting of officials' uncorroborated self-defense claims, and prioritizing witnesses and polling—cast authorities' statements as contestable rather than definitive.
Sources (6)
FAQ
Jonathan Ross is an Iraq War veteran who has served nearly two decades in Border Patrol and ICE, acting as a deportation officer since 2015. He was previously injured when dragged by a fleeing suspect's vehicle.[1]
Renee Good sustained multiple gunshot wounds: two to the right side of her chest, one to her left forearm, and a possible one to the left side of her head with protruding tissue. She was unresponsive, not breathing, with irregular pulse when paramedics arrived at 9:42 a.m., five minutes after the 9:37 a.m. shooting.
The Justice Department declined a federal civil-rights probe despite FBI recommendations, with Deputy AG Todd Blanche stating the shooting did not warrant investigation. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and President Trump defended Ross as acting in self-defense.[2]
Minnesota state prosecutors, including AG Keith Ellison and Hennepin County DA Mary Moriarty, have promised local investigations but face obstacles like lack of federal evidence access and potential immunity claims for Ross.[2]
ICE agents, trained in CPR, waited three minutes to call 911 and did not render aid; they reportedly prevented a physician on scene from helping, sparking criticism under state duty-to-aid laws.
History
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