Civil rights attorney Antonio Romanucci, widely known for representing the family of George Floyd, has taken on a new high-profile case arising from a fatal shooting involving a federal law enforcement officer in Minneapolis. Romanucci now represents the family of Renée Good, whose death during an encounter with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent has reignited
public scrutiny of federal use-of-force practices.
Romanucci, a co-founder of the Chicago-based firm Romanucci and Blandin, returned to Minneapolis in January shortly after the shooting, describing a city once again grappling with grief, anger, and unanswered questions. For the attorney, the parallels to the Floyd case are impossible to ignore, even as the legal landscape presents new and complex challenges.
“This fight isn’t over,” Romanucci said, signaling an aggressive legal strategy aimed at uncovering what happened and holding federal authorities accountable.
Fatal Encounter Raises Serious Questions
Renée Good, a Minneapolis resident and mother of three, was fatally shot on January 7, 2026, during an encounter with ICE officers in a residential area. According to preliminary accounts, Good was in her vehicle when an ICE agent fired multiple shots. Portions of the incident were captured on body-worn cameras and bystander video, which have since become central to calls for transparency.
Community members and Good’s family have questioned whether the use of deadly force was justified, particularly given early indications that Good may have been attempting to drive away rather than confront officers. Her death sparked protests and renewed debate over the presence and
tactics of federal agents operating in local neighborhoods.
The incident came amid heightened tensions in Minneapolis, a city still shaped by the legacy of George Floyd’s killing and the sweeping reforms and protests that followed.
Legal Hurdles When Federal Officers Are Involved
While Romanucci’s name is closely associated with landmark
civil rights litigation against local police departments, the Good case presents a different set of legal obstacles. Because the shooting involved a federal officer,
traditional state-level civil rights claims are not available in the same way.
Instead, potential claims must navigate the Federal Tort Claims Act, which requires families to first file an administrative claim with the federal agency involved before any lawsuit can proceed. These claims are decided by judges rather than juries, and the process can take months or longer.
Romanucci has also acknowledged the difficulty of pursuing
constitutional claims against federal officers under existing Supreme Court precedent, which has significantly narrowed the circumstances under which such lawsuits can move forward. Despite those limitations, he has indicated that every viable legal avenue will be explored.
“There is no standard playbook for cases like this,” Romanucci said. “But complexity doesn’t excuse inaction.”
Evidence Preservation and Independent Review
Romanucci’s legal team has already sent preservation letters to federal agencies demanding that all body camera footage, communications, forensic evidence, and internal reports related to the shooting be maintained. The firm has also commissioned an independent autopsy, which the family says raises concerns about the positioning of Good’s vehicle and the trajectory of the gunfire.
Federal authorities have confirmed receipt of evidence preservation requests but have released few details publicly about the ongoing investigation. ICE officials have stated that the matter is under review, though no timeline has been provided.
For Good’s family, the lack of immediate answers has compounded the trauma of her death.
Broader Accountability Concerns
Beyond the specifics of Good’s case, Romanucci and other civil rights advocates argue that the shooting highlights a broader accountability gap when federal law enforcement officers use deadly force. Unlike local police departments, federal agencies often operate with less public visibility and fewer local oversight mechanisms.
Legal experts note that successful claims against federal officers are rare, but even unsuccessful cases can prompt policy changes, congressional scrutiny, or internal reforms.
Romanucci has emphasized that the goal of the litigation extends beyond monetary damages. “This is about transparency, accountability, and making sure families aren’t shut out simply because a badge happens to be federal,” he said.
A City Watching Closely
As Minneapolis residents await further disclosures from federal investigators, the Good case has become a focal point in ongoing discussions about policing, federal enforcement authority, and civil rights protections.
For Romanucci, returning to the city carries emotional weight, but he says the legal profession has an obligation to confront difficult cases head-on. “If the system makes accountability harder,” he said, “that’s exactly when lawyers have to push harder.”
The coming months are likely to determine whether Good’s family will be able to pursue their claims in court and whether the case will once again place Minneapolis at the center of a national conversation about justice and law enforcement accountability.
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