The death of Renee Good has become one of the most explosive and polarizing moments in modern America — and the man who shot her could soon be a millionaire.
In the chaotic aftermath of a deadly confrontation between federal immigration agents and protesters in Minneapolis, two very different online fundraisers have scorched across the internet — one raising millions for the family of a grieving widow, and another swelling into a six‑figure war chest for the ICE agent who fired the fatal shots.
Renee Nicole Good, a 37‑year‑old mother of three, was killed on January 7 while behind the wheel of her SUV during a federal immigration enforcement operation. Body camera video, 911 transcripts and incident reports show her suffering multiple gunshot wounds when ICE officer Jonathan Ross fired at her vehicle as she attempted to pull away. Emergency responders found her unresponsive; she later died at a hospital.
Within hours, a verified fundraiser for Good’s family exploded beyond its modest goal, raising roughly $1.5 million — money intended to support her partner and children through unimaginable loss and uncertainty. Friends, strangers and advocates poured in donations, underscoring widespread grief and outrage over what many see as an avoidable tragedy.
But running in parallel was an unverified campaign on another platform collecting donations for Ross’s legal and personal defense — a fundraiser buoyed when billionaire investor Bill Ackman contributed $10,000, sparking a firestorm of discussion and criticism online. Ackman said his support was meant to affirm the principle of due process, not to make a political statement, yet his involvement dramatically accelerated the pace of giving and thrust the campaign into the national spotlight.
Supporters of Ross have seized on patriotic rhetoric, casting the agent as a defender acting under extreme pressure. Descriptions on his fundraising page laud him as a “hero” and a “patriot,” and some donors appear to be contributing out of anger at immigration protests and frustration with federal enforcement in Minneapolis. Critics, however, argue that using impassioned language to elevate a fatal shooting into a culture war fuel only deeper divisions in an already polarized nation.
At the same time, the story has rippled far beyond Minnesota’s streets. Demonstrations in cities from New York to Seattle have sprung up to protest federal immigration tactics, while political leaders and activists spar over characterizations of Good, interpretations of the video evidence, and the broader implications of federal authority and use of force.
In the end, while millions of dollars now flow through digital accounts on both sides, the heart of the debate isn’t about bank balances — it’s about values, fear and whose life is seen as most worth defending. No amount of money can fully answer that question, and the fervent arguments on social media, in court filings and in the streets show just how deeply this single incident has become a mirror of America’s divisions.
