🚨 “SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BRING SO MUCH GOOD TO THE WORLD… SHE COULD HAVE MADE AMERICA MORE UNITED AND GREAT”: Childhood Friend Speaks Out About the Tragic Loss of Renee Good 😔💔

A warm, creative, deeply compassionate woman—a mother of three, a poet, a singer, a beacon of kindness—gone too soon in a shocking incident that has shaken the nation.

Her childhood friend remembers Renee as someone full of light, trust, and endless empathy: “She didn’t deserve what happened… She would’ve brought a lot of good into the world if she was allowed to be here a little bit longer.”

Friends and classmates echo the same: Renee was the friend you could always count on, the one who spread joy and comfort wherever she went. Now, her family, her wife, her children, and an entire community are left grieving what could have been.

Click to read more about Renee’s beautiful life, the memories shared by those who knew her best, and why her story is touching so many hearts across the country.

Renee Nicole Macklin Good, the 37-year-old mother of three fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on Jan. 7, 2026, during an encounter in south Minneapolis, is being remembered by childhood friends and classmates as a warm, creative, and profoundly compassionate individual whose life held immense potential. A childhood friend, Megan Shirley, told media outlets that Good “would’ve brought a lot of good into the world if she was allowed to be here a little bit longer,” adding that she was a “safe friend” whom people could trust completely. “She didn’t deserve what happened to her,” Shirley said.

Good, known affectionately as “Nae” or “Nae-Nae” to loved ones, was a U.S. citizen, award-winning poet, singer, and empath who had recently relocated to Minneapolis with her wife, Becca Good, and their young child in search of a safer, more supportive community. She was the mother of three children from previous relationships and was described by family as relentlessly hopeful, optimistic, and infinitely loving. Her death has sparked nationwide protests, calls for transparency and accountability, and deep division over the circumstances of the shooting.

The incident occurred shortly after Good and her wife dropped their 6-year-old child at school. Witnesses and family accounts state that the couple stopped near an ICE operation to observe and support neighbors, intending no harm. Video footage and eyewitness reports describe a confrontation in which Good, in her vehicle, allegedly disregarded commands, leading to the agent firing multiple shots. ICE maintains the action was in self-defense, while Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Gov. Tim Walz have questioned the use of force, with Frey dismissing some characterizations outright. Federal officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, have labeled Good’s actions as aggressive, though no criminal charges have been filed against her estate.

Good’s family, including parents Tim and Donna Ganger, four siblings, and extended relatives from her late first husband’s side, released statements honoring her as “the beautiful light of our family” who brought joy to everyone she met. “She was our best friend with a seemingly infinite capacity for love,” the family said. “Nae gave everything she had to take care of her friends and family, and indeed people she never met.” They described her as a protector, a source of comfort, and someone who found joy in comforting others.

Childhood friends from Colorado Springs, where Good grew up, took to social media and interviews to share memories of her outgoing personality, musical talent, and warmth. Classmates recalled her as talented in poetry and singing, with an empathetic nature that made her stand out even then. One friend highlighted her as “full of heart and never defined by malice,” while others noted her role as an extraordinary, fiercely loving mother who always placed her children first.

Good’s wife, Becca, shared a poignant remembrance, describing her as someone who “literally sparkled” with kindness radiating from within. “She lived by an overarching belief: there is kindness in the world and we need to do everything we can to find it where it resides and nurture it where it needs to grow,” Becca said. The couple had moved to Powderhorn neighborhood seeking refuge and community, only for tragedy to strike less than a year later.

The shooting has ignited intense national debate. Protests erupted across cities, with demonstrators holding signs reading “Justice for Renee” and calling for reforms to ICE practices. Some political figures, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, suggested the agent’s response was justified based on available video. Others, including Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and community leaders, have demanded full investigations. A civil probe launched by the family’s legal team, Romanucci & Blandin, seeks transparency, with attorney Antonio M. Romanucci noting widespread public concern and a commitment to updates.

Good’s background as a poet and writer added layers to tributes. She was an award-winning artist whose work reflected deep values of compassion for all, regardless of background. Family emphasized her Christian faith and belief that “we are here to love each other.” Memorials have appeared at the site, and vigils continue in Minneapolis and beyond.

The loss has prompted reflection on broader issues, including immigration enforcement tactics, mental health in high-stress encounters, and the impact on families. Good’s three children—two from her first marriage (2009-2016) and one with her second husband—are now at the center of family efforts to provide stability amid grief.

As investigations proceed, including reviews of body camera footage and witness statements, the narrative remains polarized. Yet amid the controversy, tributes consistently return to Good’s character: a woman of light, love, and potential whose life touched many and whose absence leaves a profound void.

For her childhood friend Megan Shirley and others who knew her longest, the pain is personal. “She was supposed to bring so much good… make America more united and great,” echoes a sentiment shared in various forms across remembrances. The family has urged empathy in discussions, hoping her story fosters meaningful change and fewer such tragedies.

Resources for support, including counseling for those affected by loss or violence, remain available through local and national organizations. As Minneapolis and the nation grapple with the incident, Renee Good’s legacy—as remembered by those closest to her—endures as one of unwavering kindness in a divided time.