Jonathan Ross, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, has reportedly become a millionaire through online fundraising — a development that has ignited widespread public backlash and prompted billionaire investor Bill Ackman to publicly justify his donation.
On January 7, only a few blocks from where George Floyd was murdered, Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by a federal immigration officer. The 37-year-old mother of three suffered gunshot wounds to her chest, arm, and head. Emergency crews arrived at the scene quickly, but despite their efforts, she was declared dead less than an hour later.
The shooting occurred near the intersection of East 34th Street and Portland Avenue and immediately sparked outrage nationwide, reigniting debate over federal law enforcement’s use of force.
‘Domestic terrorism’ claims
In the days following the incident, federal officials portrayed Good as a dangerous extremist. Former President Donald Trump described her as “very violent” and “very radical,” while other administration figures referred to her as “a lunatic.” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey strongly rejected those descriptions, calling them “complete bulls**t.”
According to a CNN-obtained incident report, Ross fired multiple shots, striking Good in the right side of her chest, her left forearm, and the left side of her head.
Ross was later identified as the ICE agent responsible for the fatal shooting. He has not returned to active duty since the incident. Homeland Security officials later labeled the event an act of “domestic terrorism,” stating that one of their officers “acted swiftly and defensively to protect himself and others nearby.”
Fundraiser for family surges
In the immediate aftermath of Good’s death, public support poured in for her family. A GoFundMe campaign created to help her wife and children raised more than $1.5 million within 48 hours before being shut down on January 9.
The campaign organizers thanked donors and announced that the money would be placed into a trust for the family. They encouraged those wishing to continue giving to support other families in need.
Donations shift to the officer
After the fundraiser for Good’s family closed, attention — and money — began moving toward the ICE agent involved in her death.
Several fundraising campaigns were launched in support of Ross. One GoFundMe page has raised nearly $760,000, while another fundraiser hosted on GiveSendGo has collected more than $283,000. Together, the donations exceed $1 million, potentially making Ross a millionaire if the funds are ultimately transferred.
The GoFundMe campaign, started by supporter Clyde Emmons, described Ross as unfairly targeted by the media. In his post, Emmons wrote that he believed the shooting was “1000 percent justified” and argued that Ross deserved financial support.
An update posted on January 13 stated that organizers had been in contact with Ross and were coordinating the transfer of funds according to his wishes.
Billionaire steps in
The fundraising effort drew attention from hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman, who confirmed that he donated $10,000 to the campaign.
In a statement shared on X on January 13, Ackman said he had faced intense criticism online and in the media for contributing to Ross’s fundraiser. He explained that he had also attempted to donate to the GoFundMe for Good’s family but was unable to do so because it had already reached its fundraising goal and closed.
Ackman pushed back against claims that his donation amounted to rewarding a killer, saying such portrayals were designed to drive outrage and online engagement or serve political agendas.
‘Defense, not politics’
Ackman stated that his contribution was not meant as a political endorsement, but rather consistent with his belief that anyone facing serious criminal allegations deserves adequate legal representation.
He argued that whether Ross committed a crime should be determined through forensic evidence and legal review — not public opinion.
“I supported Ross because I understood he would require substantial resources to pay for his legal defense,” Ackman wrote. “A society in which the accused cannot afford legal representation is not one any of us should accept.”
The massive financial support for Jonathan Ross has continued to provoke criticism from activists and members of the public, many of whom view Renee Good’s death as unjust and say the donations represent a troubling approval of state violence.