MINNEAPOLIS ICE SHOOTING: GOOD FAMILY SUES US GOVERNMENT

The family of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis in January, has filed two civil lawsuits against the US government and several immigration officials.

The lawsuits were filed on Thursday by Good’s partner, Becca Good, and her brother, Brent Ganger.

Good was killed on January 7 during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis known as Operation Metro Surge.“

ValidViewNetwork reports that the lawsuits are civil actions containing allegations against the government, immigration officials and other defendants, and the claims remain subject to judicial determination.

ONE LAWSUIT TARGETS THE US GOVERNMENT

One of the lawsuits names the United States government as the sole defendant under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

The complaint alleges wrongful death under Minnesota law and cites claims including battery, assault, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence.

The second lawsuit alleges a conspiracy to interfere with civil rights and names a number of federal officials and immigration personnel.

Among the defendants named are ICE agent Jonathan Ross, who shot Good; White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller; former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem; border czar Tom Homan; former acting ICE Director Todd Lyons; former Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino and Corey Lewandowski.

WHAT HAPPENED TO RENEE GOOD?

Good was fatally shot while sitting in a vehicle during the immigration operation. Bystander videos captured the confrontation and the shooting.

According to accounts and video reviewed by news organisations, Good had stopped her vehicle during protests connected to federal immigration enforcement activity.

An officer ordered her to leave the vehicle. Good subsequently moved the SUV, after which Ross fired three shots.

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Federal officials said at the time that Ross acted in self-defence and accused Good of using her vehicle against an officer.

The family’s lawsuit disputes the government’s account and seeks to establish its own legal interpretation of the events. No criminal charges had been filed against Ross in connection with Good’s death as of the filing of the lawsuits.“

ValidViewNetwork reports that the civil proceedings will now place competing accounts of the shooting before the courts, alongside questions concerning federal immigration operations and the conduct of individual officers.

The lawsuit adds another legal chapter to a case that has already generated investigations, political controversy and public debate across the United States.