ICE shooting: Leavitt doubles down on calling Renee Good a ‘lunatic’ as Noem vows to send hundreds more agents to Minnesota

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the ongoing fallout from the killing of activist Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis last week, which has led to widespread anti-ICE protests in cities across the U.S.

Good, a 37-year-old mother-of-three and poet, was shot dead behind the wheel of her car by immigration agent Jonathan Ross in a confrontation on a suburban street, sparking a huge public outcry when footage of the incident was shared on social media.

Donations have poured into a GoFundMe account for the ICE officer accused of killing activist Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis last week as protests continued in cities across the U.S. over the weekend.

Good, a 37-year-old mother-of-three, was shot dead by federal immigration agent Jonathan Ross behind the wheel of her SUV on a residential street Wednesday morning, provoking a huge public outcry as footage of the incident was closely scrutinized on social media.

After a GoFundMe page was set up to raise money for the victim’s family, a competing account was established to enable Ross to bankroll his legal defense, which had reached $350,000 at the time of writing.

“I am big believer in our legal principal [sic] that one is innocent until proven guilty,” wrote hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman on X after donating a reported $10,000 to Ross’s cause.

Ackman also said he had intended to donate to Good’s account but that it had been closed before he could do so, nevertheless sharing links to both pages.

The Good family GoFundMe has already raised more than $1.5 million.

Thousands of people gathered in cities across the U.S. over the weekend to protest the aggressive immigration enforcement action that led to the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis and the shooting of two other people in Portland, Oregon.

Residents of Washington, D.C., Boston, New York, Raleigh, Seattle, and other cities joined the Minneapolis community in grieving the death of Good by marching with signs honoring the 37-year-old mother and chanting anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement sentiments.

“F*** ICE, ICE out,” protesters across the country chanted.

“ICE off our streets for Good,” and “Justice for Renee Good” were among the popular signs photographed in the demonstrations.

Other signs called for the impeachment of President Donald Trump, accused the administration of fascism, and claimed that ICE had committed “murder.”

Ariana Baio has a full report.

The Department of Homeland Security has said it will be sending “hundreds” more officers to Minnesota after tens of thousands of people marched through Minneapolis to protest the fatal shooting of Renee Good.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures program that the officers will be deployed to reinforce the safety of ICE and Border Patrol agents already in the state.

About 2,000 federal officers have already been dispatched to the Minneapolis-St Paul area in what DHS considers its largest-ever operation.

Here’s more.

CNN anchor Jake Tapper pressed Secretary Noem Sunday to explain how the administration was going to guarantee a fair investigation into Jonathan Ross, given that the likes of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Noem herself had all leapt to the officer’s defense last week.

The secretary attempted to blame Democrats and the media for prejudging the officer’s guilt but had no response when the State of the Union host questioned whether the administration’s stalwart defense of the agent’s actions would harm future investigations.

This weekend’s demonstrations took place at locations across the country, including outside of Trump Tower in New York City and the White House, with the participants demanding justice for the victim and her family.

Stars attending last night’s awards gala including actor Mark Ruffalo sported black-and-white lapel pins displaying slogans like “Be Good” and “ICE Out” in response to last week’s tragic incident.

“We need every part of civil society, society to speak up,” said Nelini Stamp of Working Families Power, one of the organizers behind the pin protest.

“We need our artists. We need our entertainers. We need the folks who reflect society.”

Some White House insiders were stunned by the Trump administration’s rapid response to the deadly Minneapolis shooting and are concerned that it could undermine confidence in the investigation, according to a Politico report.

Just hours after Renee Good was fatally shot on Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused the 37-year-old mom of “domestic terrorism,” prompting concern from within the administration and among current and former ICE officials, the report claims.

Insiders fear that the secretary’s message risks “undermining public confidence in the ongoing investigation” and “expanding the credibility gap between the public and the immigration agency.”

Katie Hawkinson has more.

The cousin of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has accused him of being responsible for Renee Good’s death.

“When I called out my cousin for being the ‘face of evil’ I DID NOT stutter,” Alisa Kasmer wrote on Threads, referencing a Facebook post she made last year.

“Renee Nicole Good’s death is blood on YOUR hands, Stephen. I’m just glad our grandparents are no longer alive to witness the shame you have brought to our family.”

Erin Keller reports.