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"Made no sense at all"

Family sues Trump admin over fatal shooting

Lawsuit claims immigration agent used excessive force when he shot and killed Rena Goode, 37, mother of three, during enforcement operation in Minneapolis in January

Months After Fatal ICE Shooting Caught on Camera: Family Sues Trump Administration
Slow-motion footage of the shooting
Slow-motion footage of the shooting (Photo: Social media)

The family of Rena Nicole Goode, 37 and a mother of three, has filed federal lawsuits against the Trump administration and ICE agent Jonathan Ross, who shot her to death in Minneapolis in January. The suits allege excessive use of force and unconstitutional negligence, and the family is seeking damages and a jury trial.

Goode was shot on January 7 during an immigration enforcement operation in south Minneapolis. Video footage from the incident shows agents approaching the vehicle and ordering Goode to exit. Goode reversed slightly, then shifted into drive and turned the steering wheel to the right as the vehicle began to move forward.

At that point, agent Jonathan Ross, who was positioned in front of the vehicle, drew his gun and fired. According to analysis of the video footage that was released, three shots were heard, and Goode was struck in the head and body.

Federal authorities later claimed that the vehicle posed a danger to Ross and that the shooting was done in self-defense. In contrast, videos from different angles showed Goode turning the vehicle away from Ross, and the family argues that she was attempting to leave the scene and not to harm him.

Goode was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but died from her injuries. Her brother, Bret Ganger, said: "What happened to Rena made no sense at all... something has to change now."

The White House dismissed the lawsuits as "baseless" and announced that the administration would defend itself vigorously. ICE did not provide a comment, while the Department of Homeland Security continues to maintain that the shooting was a justified use of force.

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