'She didn't have one': Renee Good’s family denies criminal record claims after ICE shooting

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Renee Nicole Good’s family has publicly pushed back against swirling online rumors falsely suggesting she had a criminal past.

Family members called the claims unsubstantiated and emphasized that Good, who was killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7, had no criminal record, countering misleading social media posts and misinformation circulating since the tragedy.

Family denies rumors of Renee Nicole Good’s criminal record

The family of Renee Nicole Good issued an emotional public response this week to push back against false online rumors claiming she had a lengthy criminal record, a claim they said was completely unfounded.

In a Facebook post, Good’s sister-in-law, Morgan Fletcher, explained, “I’ve been pretty quiet about this, because I wanted to wait until our family could piece together a statement… and it is finally published.”

“You never think the passing of a loved one will be high profile… or a massively divisive, political topic,” she wrote, underscoring the family’s deep grief. “You never think the passing of a loved one will be high profile… or a massively divisive, political topic. Regardless of what happened, she was our family. Cole and my sister-in-law. And our nephew… is now an orphan.”

Fletcher went on to stress that, despite what people have posted online, Good did not have a criminal history, including any “rap sheet,” and that the misinformation spreading on social platforms has added to the family’s anguish.

“We are grieving. Heavily. And yes, we see everyone’s posts and comments. Some in support but also, the nasty ones ripping apart our beautiful and beloved Renee. And we’ve seen the false claims and the wrong Renee Good’s info being posted (criminal history? She didn’t have one),” she wrote.

She also appealed for compassion amid the heated debate surrounding the January 7 incident. Fletcher concluded, “No matter where you stand on the issue of ICE or whether or not you think she did or didn’t deserve what happened, please remember she was a human being and she had loved ones… including children who can and will likely see all of these things about their mother… and her wife, whom she loved dearly.”

Family honors Renee Nicole Good as poet and devoted mother

Renee Good’s sister-in-law, Morgan Fletcher, also shared the family statement with The Minnesota Star Tribune, in which relatives spoke openly about their grief and the life Renee left behind.

The family statement said, “We want to honor Renee, whose love and presence touched everyone who knew her. She was an extraordinary mother, devoted, fiercely loving, and always putting her children at the center of her world.”

They remembered her as a “poet, musician, and lifelong learner, she moved through life with wonder and a drive to create and understand the world around her. She was full of heart and never defined by malice.”

Above all, the family asked the public to keep “Renee’s three children be held in your hearts. One of them is a six-year-old who has now lost both parents, and all three have had their lives changed in ways no one should ever have to experience. The children deserve privacy, protection, and care as they begin to navigate life without their mother.”

The statement also honored Timmy Ray Macklin Jr, who died in 2023. The family remembered him as Renee’s husband and the father of their six-year-old child, saying the years he spent with Renee were the happiest of his life.

They concluded by thanking those who have shown support, spoken out, and held space for the family during this painful time.

“We know Renee would be there too, cheering on those who fight for justice and standing with the people, causes, and community she loved. We hope this inspires accountability, compassion, and meaningful change so that fewer families have to endure this kind of pain.”