In a recent development, hedge fund billionaire William Ackman has made a $10,000 contribution to a GoFundMe campaign supporting ICE agent Jonathan Ross. The campaign was initiated following an incident last week in Minneapolis where Ross shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a participant in a protest. The fundraiser has garnered over $160,000, with Ackman listed as the top donor.
The incident took place when Good reportedly did not comply with commands to exit her vehicle, leading to Ross shooting her three times in the face. ICE officials claim the shooting was an act of self-defense, stating that Good attempted to strike Ross with her burgundy SUV. The agency describes the events as Good deliberately driving toward the agent.
However, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has publicly contested ICE's narrative, criticizing the agency's account of the incident. In contrast, a separate GoFundMe campaign for Good's family raised over $1.5 million within just 48 hours. Good, a poet by profession, had been trained in active resistance against ICE operations.
Clyde Emmons, the organizer of Ross's fundraiser, has labeled Good as a “domestic terrorist,” expressing that the agent's actions were “1,000 percent justified.” The funds, according to Emmons, are intended to cover any legal expenses Ross may incur.
This is not the first time Ackman has extended his support through high-profile donations. He had previously contributed $99,999 to a Syrian refugee's fundraising campaign. The refugee, Ahmed Al-Ahmed, was injured while trying to disarm attackers during a Hanukkah celebration in Australia. Ackman, who has recently endorsed President Donald Trump after years of supporting Democratic candidates, has been vocal about his philanthropic endeavors.
Following the shooting, President Trump and his administration have voiced support for Ross, asserting that he acted in self-defense. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed this sentiment, referring to Good's actions as “an act of domestic terrorism.”
Witness accounts and video footage from the day of the incident provide various perspectives. Good and her wife were reportedly serving as legal observers at the protest. Footage shows Good seemingly ignoring instructions to leave her vehicle and instead reversing in an attempt to depart the scene. The situation escalated when she drove away, resulting in gunshots and a subsequent crash involving Good's vehicle.
