Renee Goode’s family releases independent autopsy showing where she was shot: Attorney

need to know

• Independent preliminary autopsy findings have revealed more details about Renee Nicole Goode’s death

• The 37-year-old mother of three was found with four gunshot wounds.

• Good died on the morning of January 7 after being shot by an ICE agent

On a cold January night in Minnesota, Renee Nicole Goode’s life ended in an explosion of violence that has prompted her family to demand a full public accounting. As grief gives way to a determined search for the truth, new details are emerging that deepen the urgency surrounding her death – and raise questions that remain unanswered for now.

Goode was found inside her car on Jan. 7 with four apparent gunshot wounds. The 37-year-old mother had just dropped her 6-year-old off at school before the fatal encounter with federal immigration agent Jonathan Ross. He joined ICE in 2015 and was serving as a firearms instructor and member of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in 2025.

Goode was driving home in his maroon Honda Pilot with his committed partner, Becca Goode, when they came upon a group of ICE agents. According to a Minneapolis Police and Fire Department incident report obtained by PEOPLE, Goode was found with blood on his face and torso at around 9:42 a.m. local time the morning of his death.

Chicago-based law firm Romanucci & Blandin — which secured the George Floyd family a $27 million civil settlement with the city of Minneapolis in 2021 and now represents Goode’s family — has begun releasing information from its private investigation into Goode’s murder, including preliminary findings from an independent autopsy commission at the family’s request.

According to the firm, the decision to release these details reflects “continued transparency with the public on this tragedy”, which they say is central to their advocacy for Good and his loved ones.

The independent autopsy was performed by what the firm described as a highly respected and credentialed medical pathologist. Its initial conclusion paints a stark and unsatisfying picture of Goode’s final moments.

The pathologist identified three apparent gunshot wound paths on Goode’s body. A bullet hit his left arm, causing soft tissue bleeding. Another traveled through her right breast, but did not penetrate any major organs. The third gunshot wound proved fatal, as it entered the left side of his head near the temple and exited the right side of his head.

According to the information received, the gunshot wounds on the chest and left hand were not immediately life-threatening. In addition to these injuries, the pathologist noted a fourth wound, described as a grazing wound consistent with a gunshot wound, but with no penetration.

Autopsy results from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office have not yet been released to Good’s family or their legal team.

For attorneys representing families, the release of this information is not just about medical findings; It’s about accountability. Chief Advocate Antonio M. Romanucci says the research is far from over, but he’s confident where the evidence is leading.

“We believe that the evidence we are gathering and will continue to gather in our investigation will be sufficient to prove our case,” Romanucci’s statement read. “The video evidence depicting the events of January 7, 2026 is clear, especially when viewed through the standards of proper policing and the totality of the circumstances. Additionally, our legal team will continue its steadfast and active advocacy for Renee’s life and her family.”

Ross stayed on the scene after shooting Good. About 15 minutes later, he was taken to the federal building. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told PEOPLE on Jan. 14 that Ross was taken to the hospital that day with internal bleeding in his torso, but declined to answer further questions about the incident. Regarding Ross’ condition, a Minneapolis FBI representative said, “In accordance with DOJ policy, no additional information is available for release at this time.”

Ross has not been charged with a crime. However, many use of force experts have criticized his actions. “In order to use deadly force, your life or someone else’s life has to be in immediate danger,” said Chris Burbank, a former Salt Lake City police chief who doesn’t believe Ross posed any such risk.

Federal officials have said Minnesota authorities have no jurisdiction over the matter, and the FBI will handle the investigation. In response, state Attorney General Keith Ellison called for a “fair, transparent investigation of all the facts.”

Despite claims that Goode was a “domestic terrorist” that Goode intentionally tried to kill ICE agents with her car, her mother Donna and father Tim Ganger, along with Goode’s four siblings, People Goode said “our family was a beautiful light and brought joy to anyone she met. She was relentless. We were already more hopeful than her words could ever express.”

As protests, vigils and political debates continue, just around the corner from where Renee was murdered, her friend Becca is trying to pick up the pieces. As investigators continue their work and more evidence comes to light, her family insists that the truth about Renee’s life, and how it ended, will not quietly disappear from public view.

In a statement, Becca spoke not only about the loss, but also about what comes next. “I am now left to raise our son and continue to teach him, as Renee believes, that there are people out there building a better world for him,” she said.

Read the original article on People