The family of Renee Nicole Good has accused U.S. federal immigration officers of causing her death in Minneapolis while she was following their instructions. The family has retained the services of the law firm Romanucci & Blandin, which represented George Floyd’s family, to seek answers and accountability. Good, aged 37, is being remembered by her loved ones as a “peaceful individual,” and they have urged the public not to politicize her death. The law firm has announced that it will disclose findings from its investigation in the upcoming weeks.
This decision by Good’s family to engage the law firm coincided with the U.S. Justice Department’s statement that there is no basis for launching a federal civil rights inquiry into the shooting by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. Meanwhile, the FBI is currently investigating Good’s death.
The Trump administration has defended the ICE officer’s actions, claiming self-defense as the reason for firing at Good’s moving vehicle. However, this explanation has faced criticism from various officials, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who questioned the officer’s actions based on video evidence of the incident.
Several federal prosecutors in Minnesota resigned this week, along with supervisors in the criminal section of the civil rights division in Washington, in response to the situation.
Romanucci & Blandin stated that Good’s family seeks clarity regarding the federal operation on January 7 in the neighborhood where Good was killed, as well as the actions of the officers during the encounter and the delay in providing medical assistance after the shooting. The identity of the ICE agent who fired the shot has not been disclosed.
According to the law firm, Good’s partner, Becca Good, and other relatives were observing law enforcement activity after dropping off their child at school when officers approached them. The attorneys mentioned that Renee Nicole Good seemed to be trying to drive away from an agent before the shooting, although an official account has not been released.
The law firm emphasized that they will share their findings progressively as they believe the community lacks sufficient information. Representing Becca Good, as well as Renee Nicole Good’s parents and siblings, the firm intends to release information continuously, a practice they followed in securing a $27-million settlement for George Floyd’s family.
Becca Good, in a statement to Minnesota Public Radio, stated that they stopped to support their neighbors on the day of the incident, highlighting the stark contrast between their whistles and the officers’ guns.
The Associated Press has been unsuccessful in reaching Becca Good and her family for further comments. Their earlier statement focused on honoring Renee Nicole Good’s memory without providing additional details about the events leading to the shooting.