Riots broke out in Minneapolis over the weekend after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, drawing attention to attacks on people documenting the unrest and a sharp rise in threats against federal agents.
The incident occurred Jan. 7 during ICE operations in south Minneapolis. According to ICE, officers were conducting targeted enforcement when protesters blocked their vehicles. Good, 37, was in a car that accelerated toward an officer, prompting the agent to fire, the agency said in a statement [1].
🚨 CHAOS in Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/XTOqtteNvP [2]
— Steve Gruber (@stevegrubershow) January 7, 2026 [3]
Good died at the scene, leaving behind a wife and three children, including a 6-year-old son. The shooting sparked protests that escalated into riots, with crowds blocking streets, smashing windows, and looting businesses downtown.
Among those targeted were individuals recording the events. Independent journalist Nick Sortor was attacked while covering the protests near the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, a hub for ICE offices. Video footage shows a crowd surrounding Sortor’s vehicle, banging on the windows and attempting to smash them. Sortor drove through the group to escape [4] after protesters jumped in front of his car.
🚨 JUST IN: Leftists are ASSAULTING and HARASSING independent journalist Nick Sortor in Minneapolis
Disgusting people.
ALL they do is engage in political violence. This is the left.
Stay safe @NickSortor [5]!
📽️ @CamHigby [6] pic.twitter.com/Dfey3Anbfu [7]
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 12, 2026 [8]
In another clip circulating online, a woman attacked him during the confrontation [9], forcing federal agents to deploy tear gas and pepper balls. Sortor later described the incident as an assault, saying the group tried to kill him. Similar attacks have been reported on others monitoring or filming the protests, including threats and physical confrontations with demonstrators.
The unrest has also highlighted a GoFundMe campaign for Good’s family. Organized by Mattie Weiss and Becka Tilsen, the fundraiser aimed to support Good’s widow and son after the loss. It described Good as a person who “radiated kindness” and lived by the values of love and compassion.
The campaign raised $1,503,377 [10] at the time of publication, far exceeding its $50,000 goal. Funds were placed in a trust for the family, with donations paused to redirect support elsewhere. Good’s wife, Becca, said in a statement: “Renee was pure sunshine, pure love. She sparkled. She believed in love, in taking care of one another.”
Federal officials have pointed to increased dangers for ICE agents [11] in the wake of the shooting. Assaults on ICE officers have risen 1,300%, vehicular attacks 3,200% and death threats 8,000% since the incident, according to Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar.
Homan blamed “hateful rhetoric” toward agents, noting sporadic local law enforcement response in Minneapolis. “You’re in a city where law enforcement response is sporadic, at best,” Homan said. “You got threats up over 1,300%, actual assault on ICE officers.”
United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced hundreds more federal agents [12] would deploy to Minneapolis to bolster security amid the protests. The surge brings the total to thousands, marking one of the largest federal operations in response to civil unrest.
Protests have remained tense, with federal agents using tear gas and pepper balls to disperse crowds. Videos show demonstrators throwing objects and confronting law enforcement. Minneapolis public schools offered remote learning options on Monday, Jan. 12, due to safety concerns. The FBI is investigating the shooting, but state probes have stalled amid claims of federal noncooperation.
ICE maintains that the use of force was justified under threat of serious injury.