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Father of ICE agent Jonathan Ross defends son's decision to shoot as he speaks out for first time
The ICE agent responsible for fatally shooting Renee Good in Minneapolis has been named as Jonathan E. Ross, 43, an Enforcement and Removal Operations officer and Iraq war veteran.
The shooting occurred on Wednesday afternoon as Good, 37, was driving her SUV in an area where ICE agents were stationed. Ross, who is married to a U.S. citizen with Filipino heritage, has become the focal point of public outrage in connection with the incident.
Ross's father, Ed Ross, 80, defended his son's actions in an interview with the Daily Mail, stating that the situation was unavoidable.
"She hit him," he explained, adding that his son had been in a dangerous position, with another officer's arm caught in the car. "He will not be charged with anything," he said, emphasizing his son's character. "You would never find a nicer, kinder person."
Ross, a committed conservative Christian, has lived in Minneapolis since 2015. His family is known for their religious and political values, with Ross’s father previously serving as a director in church-related organizations.
Despite his father’s defense, Ross's involvement in the shooting has ignited debates about ICE's actions, particularly given the ongoing tensions surrounding the agency’s presence in Minneapolis.
Background on Jonathan Ross’s life and career
Jonathan Ross has been an immigration officer since at least 2013 and served in the military before working with ICE. His home near Minneapolis was purchased in 2015, with a loan from the Veterans Administration.
Ross’s social media activity reveals a complex personal background, including connections to foreign-born relatives through his wife, who has Filipino roots. The couple married in 2012, and posts on her Instagram account indicate they lived in El Paso, Texas, before moving to Minneapolis.
Neighbors described Ross as a reserved individual, often seen flying pro-Trump flags, though his wife was described as friendly and outgoing. The couple has two children together.
While Ross’s father has expressed pride in his son's dedication to his family and faith, the shooting incident has sparked polarized reactions. Witnesses at the scene of the shooting dispute ICE’s version of events, with some claiming that Good was acting as a legal observer during a protest when she was shot.
The aftermath and ongoing controversy
The tragic incident has led to protests and calls for ICE to leave the state, particularly from local officials in Minneapolis. Despite this, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has insisted that ICE will remain in Minnesota.
The confrontation, which involved Ross and his colleagues, is being heavily scrutinized, especially with conflicting reports about whether Good’s actions posed a direct threat to the agents.
Renee Good, a mother of three and poet, had been involved in social justice activism. She was married to comedian Timothy Macklin, who passed away in 2023, and later lived in Minneapolis with her wife, Rebecca Good.