Before donating in a moment of empathy, consider a cautionary example from this week’s headlines: a GoFundMe campaign tied to actor Mickey Rourke claimed to raise nearly $100,000 to help him avoid eviction from his Los Angeles home—but as reported by SW Newsmagazine, Rourke publicly disavowed it, saying he did not authorize the fundraiser and urging people to get refunds if they had contributed. The situation underscores a simple truth: not every online fundraiser is legitimate simply because it exists.
Renee Nicole Good provided by the family
This caution is especially relevant now as several fundraisers and crowdfunding pages have appeared in the aftermath of a federal law‑enforcement operation in Minneapolis that resulted in the fatal shooting of 37‑year-old Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on January 7, 2026. Some campaigns are focused on supporting her family; others have no clear connection. Before you give, make sure any fundraiser is explicitly endorsed by her family or close representatives so your generosity reaches the people most directly affected.
What We Know About Renee Nicole Good’s Death
Renee Nicole Good, a 37‑year‑old U.S. citizen, was shot and killed by an ICE agent in south Minneapolis during a federal enforcement operation. Prosecutors, officials, videos from bystanders, and eyewitness accounts paint a complex and contested picture of what happened.
According to multiple news reports, the fatal encounter unfolded just a block or two from Good’s residence, in a residential neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis. Local video footage widely shared online shows federal agents surrounding her SUV as it blocked a roadway. Witnesses and recordings indicate that agents gave conflicting commands before the vehicle began to move.
Contradicting the initial federal narrative that she posed “an imminent threat”, witnesses and videos show Good’s vehicle as unarmed and that she appeared to be attempting to drive away when the shots were fired.
Onlookers also reported chaotic moments after the shooting: a man identifying himself as a physician tried to reach Good to check her condition but was blocked, and emergency medical responders took more than fifteen minutes to arrive on foot because ICE agents had blocked the street with their vehicles.
Good was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, where she later died of her injuries. The incident has drawn protests, political response, and calls for further investigation from local and national leaders.
Who Was Renee Nicole Good?
Renee Nicole Good was a U.S. citizen originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, known by friends as warm, creative, and deeply devoted to her family. She earned a degree in English and creative writing and was a published poet who won recognition for her work. She described herself as a poet and a mother.
Good lived in Minneapolis with her partner and their three children — a 15‑year‑old daughter, a 12‑year‑old son, and a 6‑year‑old son who is now without a mother. Her youngest child’s father, Timmy Ray Macklin Jr., had died in 2023.
Her mother, Donna Ganger, told the Star Tribune that Good was “one of the kindest people I’ve ever known… loving, forgiving and affectionate. She was an amazing human being,” adding that she believed her daughter was “probably terrified” during the encounter that led to her death.
Reactions From Around the Twin Cities and Beyond
The Twin Cities community responded quickly to Good’s death with vigils, protests, and demands for accountability. Thousands gathered to mourn and to express outrage at how the incident unfolded.
Local and state leaders also weighed in. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota posted on her official Facebook page that Good was “a mother of three, including a 6‑year‑old boy who is now an orphan… deeply loved by many,” and criticized federal tactics, writing that
“by refusing to coordinate with local law enforcement, ICE is not making our community safe. It is making it less safe.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey rejected the federal narrative, saying that videos he reviewed did not support claims that Good posed a threat to agents. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz echoed concerns, calling for full transparency and an impartial investigation.
“This was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying — getting killed,” Mayor Jacob Frey said at a conference.
At the federal level, Department of Homeland Security leaders and members of the administration defended the actions of the ICE agent, describing the incident as self‑defense and an attempt by Good to weaponize her vehicle. Those characterizations have been widely disputed by local officials and community witnesses.
Minnesotans, again, don’t give them the unrest that they want. Don’t give in to allowing them to bring more folks in here. Don’t allow them to expand this somewhere else,” Walz said in closing. “Rise up. Wrap your arms around your neighbors. Peacefully express your First Amendment, your constitutional rights, and let’s start healing.
Status of the ICE Agent
The ICE agent who shot Renee Nicole Good has been identified as Jonathan Ross, who was involved in another incident in June 2025. Ross has not been arrested or any charges filed against him. According to Homeland Security officials, he was treated at a local hospital following the incident and is now spending time with his family. Federal authorities continue to investigate the shooting, and no formal charges or disciplinary actions have been announced publicly. Secretary Kristi Noem said that she expected reviews would show “he acted appropriately.”
Verified Fundraisers — Know Before You Donate
In the days since her death, supporters have launched fundraising efforts aimed at helping Good’s family with funeral expenses, legal support, and long-term care for her children. One of the most widely shared campaigns is a GoFundMe page created to benefit Renee’s spouse and her children, which has raised significant support and far exceeded its original goal of a much smaller initial amount. But many others are of suspicious nature.
While this campaign appears to be the primary, widely circulated fundraiser connected to Good’s family, it’s important to note that crowdfunding platforms do not automatically verify beneficiaries. That means well-intentioned but unauthorized fundraisers can exist alongside legitimate ones.
Before donating or sharing any fundraiser:
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Look for language that clearly states the funds will benefit Renee’s spouse and children.
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Verify trusted community voices have mentioned or linked the campaign.
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Avoid donating to pages without clear beneficiary information or endorsement by the family or their representatives.
Verifying legitimacy helps ensure that your contribution reaches those most affected and is not diverted by unrelated or unauthorized organizers.
Honoring Renee Responsibly
Renee Nicole Good was more than a headline. She was a parent, a partner, a poet and writer, and a neighbor whose life mattered deeply to family, friends, and her community. In honoring her memory, supporters should be mindful not only of what happened in the moments that took her life, but of how they choose to support the family she left behind. In moments of grief and political tension, verification isn’t doubt — it’s respect.
Featured top photo by Chad Davis –
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