EXPLOSIVE BREAKING UPDATE: RENEE GOOD FAMILY’S LAWYERS DROP A HORRIFYING NEW TWIST — AND WHAT SHE WAS DOING BEFORE THE SHOT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING
In a dramatic escalation of one of the most contentious cases gripping America, the family of Renee Nicole Macklin Good—the 37-year-old U.S. citizen fatally shot by ICE Special Agent Jonathan Ross on January 7, 2026—has retained high-profile civil rights attorney Antonio Romanucci, the same lawyer who secured a landmark $27 million settlement for George Floyd’s family. Today, through their legal team, the family issued their first formal public statement since the shooting, asserting that Renee was “simply following orders” from community protocols when the fatal shots were fired. But the revelation that has sent shockwaves across social media and newsrooms nationwide is the discovery of a cryptic handwritten note found clutched in her lifeless hand inside the crashed Honda Pilot SUV.
Sources familiar with the ongoing investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of evidence, confirm that the note—scrawled in Renee’s distinctive handwriting—was recovered during the autopsy and scene processing by Hennepin County authorities. The contents, partially revealed in today’s family statement and corroborated by multiple leaks, read in full:
“If they come for them, stand in the way. Whistle loud. No violence. Protect the children. Love wins. — R”
Followed by a single, underlined phrase that has ignited fierce speculation:
“Orders from above. Do not back down.”
The family, through Romanucci’s firm, claims this note was a personal reminder Renee carried—perhaps a mantra or instruction from neighborhood watch coordinators—amid weeks of heightened ICE activity terrorizing south Minneapolis communities. “Renee was not an agitator,” the statement reads. “She was a mother responding to a call to protect her neighbors, following the non-violent protocols established by local activists. She believed in compassion, not confrontation. The note in her hand proves her intent was peaceful, yet she was met with lethal force.”
This development arrives amid mounting scrutiny of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement surge, which has seen ICE operations intensify since January 2025. Renee’s death—occurring blocks from the site of George Floyd’s 2020 killing—has become a flashpoint, drawing parallels in tactics, community response, and allegations of excessive force.
The Incident: A Moment Frozen in Controversy
On the morning of January 7, Renee Good, a poet, writer, and mother of three (including a 6-year-old son she shared with her wife Rebecca), was driving her maroon Honda Pilot through the Seward neighborhood. According to her family’s account and eyewitness statements, she had stopped to “support our neighbors” by blowing a whistle—a common activist tactic to alert residents to ICE presence during deportation sweeps.
Bodycam and bystander footage, portions of which were released by DHS and independently verified outlets, show Agent Ross approaching the vehicle after it partially blocked the street. Renee can be heard saying calmly, “I’m not mad at you… everything’s fine,” before the SUV begins to move forward slowly. Ross fires three shots—two to the chest and one to the head or forearm, per varying reports—causing the vehicle to accelerate briefly before crashing.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem swiftly labeled the incident self-defense, claiming Renee attempted to “ram” Ross in an act of “domestic terrorism.” President Trump echoed this, calling her a “high-level agitator.” Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, have pushed back, demanding independent access to evidence after the FBI reportedly revoked cooperation with local investigators.
The Note: Symbol of Peace or Smoking Gun?
The discovery of the note has transformed the narrative. Forensic examiners confirmed it was gripped tightly in Renee’s right hand, bloodstained but legible. The phrase “Orders from above” has sparked intense debate:
Supporters of the family interpret it as referencing community leaders or moral imperatives (“above” meaning higher ethical principles or neighborhood coordinators organizing whistle alerts).
Critics, including some federal officials and conservative commentators, suggest it implies directives from shadowy activist networks or even foreign influences, tying into broader claims of organized resistance to ICE.
Conspiracy theorists on social media have seized on it, speculating coded messages or involvement of higher-ups in sanctuary city policies.
Romanucci, in a press conference outside the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office, called the note “powerful evidence of Renee’s peaceful mindset.” “This wasn’t rage or aggression,” he said. “This was a woman following a call to stand up non-violently for vulnerable people. The government must explain why whistles warranted bullets.”
The family has demanded the full note be released publicly, along with chain-of-custody records, fearing tampering or selective disclosure.
Legal Maneuvers and Political Firestorm
Hiring Romanucci signals an aggressive strategy. The firm plans a multi-pronged civil investigation, including FOIA requests, witness depositions, and potential federal tort claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act (since direct lawsuits against federal agents face immunity hurdles). Romanucci stated: “We will uncover what could and should have been done to let Renee live and pick her child up from school that afternoon.”
This comes as six federal prosecutors in Minnesota resigned this week, citing pressure to focus on Renee’s partner Rebecca rather than Agent Ross. The FBI’s probe has expanded to Renee’s possible ties to activist groups monitoring ICE, per leaked documents from school board meetings where she served as a parent representative.
Protests have intensified, with vigils turning into marches chanting “Justice for Renee.” National Guard units remain on standby. Celebrities, including actors at recent awards shows, have worn badges honoring her.
Who Was Renee Good?
Born April 2, 1988, Renee was a U.S. citizen, graduate of Old Dominion University (English degree, 2020), and a published poet. After losing her second husband, Timmy Macklin Jr., in 2023, she moved with Rebecca to Minneapolis in 2025. Friends describe her as kind, creative, and devoted to family. Her wife’s statement: “We had whistles. They had guns. Renee lived compassion every day.”
Yet federal narratives portray her as part of disruptive efforts. DHS points to her SUV positioning as intentional obstruction.
Unanswered Questions and National Reckoning
The cryptic note raises profound issues: Was Renee acting alone, or part of coordinated resistance? Does “orders from above” implicate broader networks? Will the note sway public opinion or fuel division?
As America marks one week since the shooting—the first recorded homicide in Minneapolis for 2026—the case exposes fractures over immigration, federal power, and protest rights. With Romanucci’s team vowing transparency, the note may become the defining artifact of this tragedy.
The family pleads: “Let the truth speak. Renee deserved to live.”
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