Neighbors say Jonathan Ross, an ICE deportation officer since 2015, told people he worked as a botanist — a claim they now describe as untrue. Ross has been identified by authorities in connection with the January 7 shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. Bystander videos showing Good’s car skidding on snow and hitting parked vehicles appear to conflict with some public statements from national figures. Investigations are ongoing as officials review video, witness accounts and other evidence.
ICE Agent Accused Of Killing Minneapolis Mother Told Neighbors He Was A "Botanist," Neighbors Say
Screenshot/Max Nesterak/X
Neighbors say the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent accused of fatally shooting 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good told them he worked with plants — a claim they now describe as a lie.
A screen grab of ICE agent Jonathan Ross, circled in red, fatally shooting Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota. / The Daily Beast/Youtube
According to People, neighbors at a 2020 neighborhood gathering recalled Jonathan Ross, 43, saying he was a botanist. Ross has been employed by ICE since 2015 as a deportation officer, officials say.
The widow and mom-of-one was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. / Facebook
What Happened
On January 7, in Minneapolis, Ross — an Iraq War veteran — allegedly shot and killed Good after an encounter with federal officers. Good, a mother of three, had reportedly just dropped her six-year-old son at school when she encountered ICE agents, according to her ex-husband. Bystander videos show her vehicle skidding on snow and striking parked cars; those videos have raised questions about official descriptions of the incident.
Jonathan Ross, 43, reportedly told neighbors he
“He said he worked with plants, as a botanist, so he lied about what he did,” a neighbor told People.
Neighbors And Local Details
Residents in Ross’s Minnesota suburb said they did not know he worked for ICE until his name was made public in connection with the shooting. Satellite images and reports note a yellow “Don’t Tread On Me” flag at the home, and neighbors described him as private. One neighbor said she watched items being removed from Ross’s house by agents the day after the shooting and has seen a patrol car at the address.
Police tape surrounds a vehicle suspected to be involved in a shooting by an ICE agent during federal law enforcement operations on January 07, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. / Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Public Response And Ongoing Questions
National figures and local officials have publicly characterized the incident in varying ways. Media reports indicate that some politicians, including Governor Kristi Noem and former President Donald Trump, offered statements that portrayed the encounter as dangerous for the officer; those accounts have been called into question by multiple bystander videos that show the incident from different angles. The Daily Beast reported it reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
The case remains under investigation. Officials have released limited details, and bystander footage and eyewitness accounts are being examined alongside official statements. Media organizations continue to report developments as investigators and prosecutors review the evidence.
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