The identity of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent involved in the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old mother in Minneapolis has now been made public, as the agent’s family comes forward to defend his actions and character while a federal investigation moves ahead.
The Daily Mail first reported that Jonathan E. Ross, 43, is the ICE officer seen in video footage firing three shots that killed Renee Good. The incident occurred after Good allegedly blocked a roadway with her vehicle during an ICE operation on Wednesday. Although the agent’s face was covered in the footage, as is common practice for ICE officers in public-facing enforcement actions, multiple outlets including the New York Post and CNN have since confirmed Ross’s identity.
Ross’s father, Ed Ross, 80, spoke out in defense of his son, expressing confidence that the agent will not face criminal charges. The investigation is now being handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, after local authorities withdrew from the case, citing a lack of access to evidence.
“He’s a committed, conservative Christian, a tremendous father, a tremendous husband,” the elder Ross said. “I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
According to reporting, Ross has been married to a Filipino woman, who is a U.S. citizen, since 2012, though it remains unclear how long she has held that status. His in-laws are doctors living in the Philippines. Ross is also an Iraq War veteran and has worked with Immigration and Customs Enforcement since 2013. He serves on a tactical unit known as the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Special Response Team.
Neighbors interviewed by the Daily Mail described Ross as a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, with some recalling that he once flew a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag outside his home. Ross previously lived in Texas before relocating to the Minneapolis area.
Additional details about Ross emerged earlier from Vice President JD Vance, who addressed the case during a press conference. Vance disclosed that the agent had received dozens of stitches after being dragged by a vehicle during a prior incident, a fact he suggested was relevant to understanding the agent’s perspective during dangerous encounters.
“So you think maybe he’s a little bit sensitive about somebody ramming him with an automobile?” Vance asked reporters at the time.
That remark, however, only intensified criticism from opponents of ICE, who have seized on Good’s death to attack the agency and its enforcement tactics.
ICE officials have consistently maintained that Ross acted in self-defense, arguing that Good used her vehicle as a weapon during the confrontation. That account has been disputed by some local leaders, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who has publicly rejected the agency’s description of events.
As the FBI continues its investigation, the case has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over immigration enforcement, officer safety, and the use of force, with supporters of ICE emphasizing the dangers agents face in the line of duty and critics pressing for accountability in a highly charged and closely watched incident.
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