Bill Ackman donates $10K to ICE agent Jonathan Ross’ GoFundMe, says 'innocent until proven guilty'

WASHINGTON, DC: Hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman has emerged as the top donor to the fundraiser for Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who shot Renee Nicole Good.

Explaining his decision on X, Ackman stated, “I am big believer in our legal principal that one is innocent until proven guilty,” and added, “To that end, I supported the @gofundme for Jonathan Ross and intended to similarly support the gofundme for Renee Good’s family (her gofundme was closed by the time I attempted to provide support).”

Bill Ackman emerges as top donor for ICE agent Jonathan Ross

Bill Ackman, the founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, is the top donor to a GoFundMe for Jonathan Ross, contributing $10,000 on Sunday, January 11.

Ackman also shared the fundraiser on X, amplifying its reach as it surpassed $160,000.

In his post, he expressed his perspective on the tragedy, writing, “The whole situation is a tragedy. An officer doing his best to do his job, and a protester who likely did not intend to kill the officer but whose actions in a split second led to her death. Our country is stronger if we work together to resolve the complex issues that are tearing us apart.”

This is not the first time Ackman has made a large donation. He previously gave $99,999 to Ahmed Al-Ahmed, a Syrian refugee who disarmed a gunman during a Hanukkah celebration in Australia.

While presenting Al-Ahmed with a gold menorah at a New York gala, Ackman stated, "Jews are 0.2 per cent of the world. So seeing someone step forward on behalf of people he didn't know, to risk his own life, and the calculus of going after a guy with a gun, it's really one of the great acts of heroism."  

Organizer labels shooting ‘1,000 percent justified’

The fundraiser for Ross was started by Clyde Emmons, who described Good as a "domestic t*rrorist" and claimed the shooting was "1,000 percent justified."

Emmons stated that "Funds will go to help pay for any legal services this officer needs," and said he is "currently in contact with his father and awaiting the officer's response so I can send him the link to hand this over to him personally."

Federal and Local narratives clash over Minneapolis Shooting

The shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good has caused a major divide between federal and local officials.

ICE claims that Ross acted in self-defense after Good tried to run him over with her SUV, a narrative supported by the Trump administration.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the incident "an act of domestic terrorism" and stated, "An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively, shot to protect himself and the people around him."

Meanwhile, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin also claimed Ross was "fearing for his own life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement, and the safety of the public."

However, local leaders, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have disputed this version of events.