Renee Good Shooting: Minneapolis Rally Raises £360,000 For Son Who Lost Father Just Years Ago

Six-year-old boy. Two parents. Both gone before his seventh birthday. That is the heartbreaking reality facing the son of Renee Nicole Good, the 37-year-old Minneapolis woman fatally shot by an ICE agent on 7 January 2026 during what federal officials called routine immigration enforcement.

Good's young son lost his father, Timmy Ray Macklin Jr., in 2023. Now, just two years later, he has lost his mother too. The tragedy has ignited nationwide protests, sparked a political firestorm between state and federal officials, and united thousands of strangers who have donated over $450,000 (approximately £360,000) to support the boy and Good's wife.

Videos of the shooting, captured by bystanders and shared across social media, show an ICE agent firing into Good's vehicle as it moved forward. What happened next would divide a nation.

The Community's Overwhelming Response to Tragedy

What happened next revealed the depth of community solidarity in an age of political division. A GoFundMe campaign organised by Mattie Weiss, established to support Renee's wife and 6-year-old son, set a target of £50,000, yet within hours, donations had exceeded £360,000 as thousands of strangers chose to act. The fundraising page contained a simple but haunting tribute: 'Please support the wife and son of Renee Good as they grapple with the devastating loss of their wife and mother. Renee was pure sunshine, pure love. She will be desperately missed.'

The Minneapolis City Council publicly identified Good as a local resident who had simply been 'caring for her neighbours' that morning.

Good's mother, Donna Ganger, told the Minnesota Star Tribune her daughter was 'one of the kindest people I've ever known.' She described Renee as 'extremely compassionate' and devoted to caring for others. Ganger rejected claims her daughter had been involved in any protest activity, saying Renee was 'probably terrified' during the encounter.

The boy's paternal grandfather has reportedly said he plans to travel to Minneapolis to help care for his grandchild following Good's death.

The Competing Narratives Surrounding Renee Good's Death

The shooting has exposed a significant rift in how authorities and the public understand what happened that day. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was unequivocal in his criticism, calling the incident 'totally avoidable' and addressing the state with words that captured public sentiment: 'To Minnesotans I say this: I feel your anger. I'm angry. They want a show. We can't give it to them.'

The Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, offered a starkly different interpretation of events. According to her account, Renee had 'weaponised' her car with the intention of harming officers, and claimed that one agent had been struck by the vehicle. She characterised the shooting as an act of 'self-defence' by the officer involved. This competing narrative has left many struggling to reconcile the official account with the videos recorded by citizens present at the scene.

The emotional toll on Renee's family remains at the forefront of public consciousness, particularly given the devastating timing of the tragedy.

Her young son has now lost his mother, joining countless others whose lives have been torn apart by encounters with federal enforcement agencies.

Donations originally intended for the family's future have far exceeded expectations, transforming a moment of unspeakable loss into a testament to collective compassion and the determination of communities to support one another when government systems fail them.