By Zachary Stieber
Contributing Writer
Renee Good’s family on Thursday sued the U.S. government and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, alleging violations of the law occurred in the fatal shooting of Good in January.
The civil complaints were lodged in federal court in Minnesota, where Good was shot by an ICE officer after she declined to stop her vehicle and drove toward an agent during a traffic stop.
The complaints say that the agent who shot Good violated the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment, which bars unreasonable searches and seizures; government policy that only permits deadly force when there is an imminent threat of death or serious injury; and federal law by committing battery without any legal justification for the shooting.
He and other Department of Homeland Security personnel at the scene also inflicted emotional distress upon Good by illegally confining her even though she had not committed or threatened any violence, nor broken any law, the complaints allege.
The filings say Good, who was with her wife, Becca Good, had stopped in her neighborhood and honked her horn to alert neighbors that federal officers were there to conduct immigration enforcement operations. They claimed Good was attempting to “drive slowly away” when she was shot.
The lawsuits seek damages. One requests a bench trial; the other requests a jury trial.
“Renee told masked agents she wasn’t mad at them; her last words clearly reflected her state of mind. Renee had the right to speak, express herself, assemble, observe and leave the scene unharmed and alive,” said Antonio M. Romanucci, founding partner of Romanucci & Blandin and one of the lawyers representing Good’s family.
“Today, these lawsuits are the beginning of the ultimate legal weapon in uncovering the truth behind this unlawful use of deadly force and the nefarious conspiracies behind the invasion of American cities by American law enforcement officers.”
Brett Ganger, Renee Good’s brother, said in a statement, “I stand here with fierce determination to do what is right for my sister, for her children, and for our country — and that is to insist on accountability.”
Becca Good added: “What happened to us should never happen to any family. No child should grow up without a parent because of it. No one should lose their sister or their daughter. No one should have to live without their soulmate. Accountability — real accountability — is the only way to make sure that no other family has to go through what we have.”
The White House and DHS did not return requests for comment by the time of publication.
A Department of Justice spokesperson said via email that it does not comment on pending litigation or investigations.
