Renée Nicole Macklin Good

The Person
Renée Good was a 37-year-old poet, writer, and mother who had recently moved to Minneapolis to “restart her life” after the sudden death of her second husband in 2023. Born in Colorado Springs, she was the daughter of Tim and Donna Ganger and a sister to four siblings. Her family described her as “pure sunshine”—a compassionate Christian who believed in nurturing kindness wherever it resided. A devoted mother of three, she was known for her “extremely compassionate” nature and her commitment to keeping others safe and whole. At the time of her death, she was living with her wife, Becca, and her youngest son, while working as a substitute teacher.

The Case
On the morning of January 7, 2026, shortly after dropping her 6-year-old son off at school, Renée was driving home with her wife when they encountered ICE agents conducting an immigration action in Minneapolis’s Whittier neighborhood. According to bystander and official footage, Renée stopped her vehicle near the agents. An agent, later identified as Jonathan Ross, approached her SUV while wearing a mask. After a brief verbal exchange where Renée told the agent, “That’s fine, dude. I’m not mad at you,” she began to turn her vehicle away from the scene. As she drove past him, Agent Ross fired multiple shots through the side of her windshield and open driver-side window. Renée was struck in the head and later pronounced dead at Hennepin Healthcare Hospital. Her death, alongside that of Alex Pretti weeks later, sparked national protests and intense scrutiny regarding federal law enforcement tactics in residential areas.

My Thoughts

This was the first portrait that I completed as part of my Tribute Sketches project. I am writing this part of the blog post in June, 2026 and since January I’ve done several more drawings, along with creating a website and a facebook page. Renee’s death hit me hard. Maybe it was the media coverage that I was exposed to or maybe it was just the overall feeling of division in this country. Renee Good, for me, was a turning point.

It’s easy to write off your feelings as being biased or just the product of someone who doesn’t understand how things work. Mistakes are made. Tragedies happen. It gets to the point of absurdity, doubting your own experiences and how you understand the world as it is and how it should be. Maybe I’m wrong. I don’t want to add to the noise if I don’t fully understand something. The truth is, nobody fully understands anything. You hope that people are just doing the best they can with whatever they have. You hope that there is a reason for these losses – a bigger picture, a better future where these things don’t happen. Casualties for a “greater good,” you might say. Renee’s death was an awakening for me. For many, she was a political martyr. For me – I understand the allure of turning someone into a martyr. It can help instigate change, but it can also be divisive and truth can become warped. For this reason I do not draw from that angle. Instead, I draw from this angle: She was a human who was loved by many and she did not deserve to die. It’s as simple as that. Oftentimes that gets lost within the martyrdom story. These portraits are not meant to be political statements. They are meant to convey love to the families. They are my prayers to those who are lost, those who are grieving, those who are trying to heal and those who are seeking justice in whatever ways are possible.

I still have Renee’s portrait in a package ready to send. I have been unsuccessful so far at reaching her family. If you know Renee’s wife or parents, please send them a link to get in contact with me. I can always send these out to an attorney, trusted neighbor or friend to forward as well. Thank you!