MINNEAPOLIS — Massive demonstrations have engulfed Minneapolis this weekend, intensifying Sunday morning after federal authorities delivered a stunning blow to the pursuit of justice in the killing of Renee Good. The FBI has effectively suspended its active cooperation with state investigators, and breaking reports confirm the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division will not pursue an investigation into the fatal shooting of the 37-year-old mother by an ICE agent. The decision has ignited accusations of a federal cover-up, fueling a new wave of civil unrest across the Twin Cities.
Federal Investigation Suspended: 'A Cover-Up in Plain Sight'
The streets of South Minneapolis are once again the epicenter of a national outcry. Tensions reached a boiling point late Saturday following revelations that the FBI had officially sidelined the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and that the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division had been ordered to stand down. Protesters, chanting "Justice for Renee" and "Abolish ICE," have gathered in the thousands outside the Whipple Federal Building, defying freezing temperatures to demand accountability for what many are calling a state-sanctioned execution.
According to sources within the Justice Department, leadership in the Civil Rights Division informed staff that they would play no role in the probe, a deviation from standard protocol in high-profile officer-involved shootings. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the move, stating, "It feels very, very difficult that we will get a fair outcome when transparency is systematically dismantled." The suspension of a credible, independent federal inquiry has left state officials scrambling to launch their own parallel investigation to preserve evidence before it disappears.
The Shooting of Renee Good: Conflicting Accounts
The controversy stems from the January 7 incident at 34th Street and Portland Avenue, just blocks from where George Floyd was murdered in 2020. Renee Nicole Good, a legal observer and poet, was documenting an ICE enforcement operation when she was shot and killed behind the wheel of her vehicle. While DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Vice President JD Vance have defended the shooter—identified in court records as ICE agent Jonathan Ross—claiming Good attempted to run agents over, witness video tells a different story.
Cellphone footage released Friday appears to show Good attempting to drive away from the scene, posing no immediate threat to the agents when three shots were fired into her car. "She was a compassionate neighbor trying to be a legal observer on behalf of her immigrant neighbors," said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. "They didn't want her to get out of there. They wanted to... do what they did." The stark contradiction between the official federal narrative and the video evidence has become the catalyst for the explosive public reaction.
Keith Ellison and State Officials Fight Back
Minnesota Launches Independent Probe
In response to the federal freeze-out, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty have announced an unprecedented joint effort to conduct an independent state-level investigation. "We still know there is evidence out there, and we want to make sure it gets gathered," Ellison told reporters. The move is a direct challenge to the federal government's assertion of exclusive jurisdiction, setting up a potential constitutional showdown between Minnesota and the Trump administration.
Moriarty has opened a secure portal for witnesses to submit video evidence directly to the state, bypassing the FBI. "The law is clear: We do have jurisdiction," Moriarty asserted, emphasizing that federal badges do not grant immunity from state murder charges. This assertive stance has provided a glimmer of hope to protesters who fear the case will be buried by federal bureaucracy.
Community Rally and Record-Breaking Support
While anger boils in the streets, a profound wave of solidarity has risen online. A GoFundMe campaign established for Good's family—her wife and three children—has shattered expectations, raising over $1.5 million in less than 72 hours. Originally seeking $50,000 to cover funeral costs, the fund became a viral symbol of resistance and compassion before organizers paused donations on Friday.
"Renee was pure sunshine, pure love," read a statement from organizers Mattie Weiss and Becka Tilsen. The funds will now be placed in a trust for Good's children, including her 6-year-old son whom she had just dropped off at school before the shooting. The massive financial support reflects the national scope of the story, with donations pouring in from across the country as protests spread to other major cities including Portland, New York, and Chicago.
What Comes Next?
As Minneapolis braces for another night of demonstrations, the standoff between state and federal authorities shows no signs of de-escalation. With the FBI investigation effectively shuttered to outside scrutiny and the DOJ stepping back, the burden of truth now rests on the independent state inquiry and the continued pressure from the public. For now, the intersection of 34th and Portland remains a vigil, a crime scene, and a battleground for the future of civil rights in Minnesota.
