The ICE agent who shot dead Renee Nicole Judd is now a millionaire after receiving thousands of donations from crowdfunding.
Officer Jonathan “John” Ross, 43, has raised more than $1 million in funds from supporters on GoFundMe and GiveSendGo. Neither campaign was created by Ross.
The GoFundMe has received more than $747,000 in donations. Campaign organizer Clyde Emmons called Goode a “domestic terrorist” and wrote that Ross “was 1,000 percent justified in the shooting and deserves to go to my funding.”
Tom Hennessy, creator of the GiveSendGo campaign, described Judd as a “far-left agitator” and urged “America First patriots” to help support the “courageous” Ross who “fired in self-defense to neutralize the threat.” The campaign raised more than $279,000.
Although most of the more than 21,000 donations were made anonymously, billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman — who endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 election — is listed as the largest donor on GoFundMe.
Ackman gifted the agent $10,000, calling the shooting a “tragedy” in an X post. The Pershing Square CEO added that he tried to support the Good family’s fundraising campaign, but it had already closed after reaching more than $1.5 million.
FBI investigators are conducting a thorough investigation into Judd’s fatal shooting, though sources close to the investigation have indicated that Ross is “increasingly unlikely” to face criminal charges.
An insider told the New York Times that the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, which typically investigates police-involved shootings, has not opened an investigation into whether Ross violated Judd’s rights under federal law.
ICE Officer Jonathan “John” Ross, 43, (pictured the day he shot Renee Nicole Judd dead) has raised more than $1 million in funds from supporters on GoFundMe and GiveSendGo
The Trump administration claimed that Ross (with his wife in 2012) suffered internal bleeding in his torso during the shooting.
Renee Nicole Judd was shot and killed on January 7 after refusing ICE orders to collect her car.
Federal investigators are reportedly investigating Judd’s possible connections with activist groups protesting Trump’s anti-immigration crackdown.
The Justice Department reportedly plans to investigate a wide range of activists who participated in ICE surveillance activities in the Minneapolis neighborhood, believing them to be “instigators” of the shooting.
It remains unclear whether Judd, a 37-year-old mother of three, was involved in any activity in Minneapolis besides participating in the protest against ICE actions on the day she was killed.
Judd’s family has hired Chicago-based Romanucci & Blandin, which represented George Floyd’s family, to conduct a civil investigation into the fatal shooting.
The company — which helped secure a $27 million settlement for Floyd’s family — said it would release the information in the coming weeks.
Judd’s family accuses federal immigration officers of killing her, and said in a statement on Wednesday that they want everyone to remember them as “agents of peace.” They also urged the public not to use her death as a political flashpoint.
Likewise, Ross sought legal advice from Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Chris Madel, KSTP reported.
Madill confirmed his involvement in the case to the outlet. He also noted that Ross has applied for legal representation under federal regulations and, if necessary, Justice Department officials will likely defend him.
The Trump administration defended the ICE officer’s actions, saying he fired in self-defense while standing in front of Judd’s car as it began to move forward.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and others have criticized that interpretation based on videos of the confrontation.
The GoFundMe has received more than $747,000 in donations. Campaign organizer Clyde Emmons called Good a “domestic terrorist” and wrote that Ross was “1,000 percent justified in the shooting and deserves to go to my funding.”
Tom Hennessy, creator of the GiveSendGo campaign, described Judd as a “far-left agitator” and urged “America First patriots” to help support the “courageous” Ross who “fired in self-defense to neutralize the threat.” The campaign raised more than $279,000
Jacob Wells, co-founder of GiveSendGo, confirmed that all campaigns on his platform will go directly to Ross, noting that some funds from his site have already been released to the official.
Although most of the more than 21,000 donations were made anonymously, billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman — who endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 election — is listed as the largest donor on GoFundMe.
Ross suffered internal bleeding in his torso during the confrontation that took place on January 7, the Trump administration confirmed to the Daily Mail on Wednesday.
The extent of his condition remains unclear, as internal bleeding can also be classified as a contusion or contusion causing minor or serious injury.
He was subsequently hospitalized and released the same day, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said.
In addition to major fundraisers on GoFundMe and GiveSendGo, Ross’s supporters have created several other campaigns in his honor, though those have not received the same amount of donations.
Jacob Wells, co-founder of GiveSendGo, confirmed that all campaigns on his platform will go directly to Ross, noting that some funds from his site have already been transferred to the administrator.
It’s not clear whether the same applies to GoFundMe campaigns. The Daily Mail has contacted the fundraising site for comment, with a spokesperson recently saying they typically only suspend campaigns for people accused of a crime.
Wells also criticized other crowdfunding sites for allegedly censoring the types of fundraising allowed on their platforms.
“I can confidently say that the main reason ICE agent fundraisers are still allowed on GoFundMe is because GiveSendGo exists,” he said on Twitter.
“Our competitors have a history of canceling fundraisers for law enforcement caught in similar tough moments. There was a time when they thought they could cancel anyone with impunity. That time is over. Now they know better as they continue to lose market share to us.”
Footage allegedly recorded by Ross shows how Renee Nicole Goode and her accomplice taunted ICE agents before fatal shooting
Witnesses said Judd and her partner Rebecca (pictured moments before the shooting) were acting as legal observers and filming the protest that day
Video of the fatal shooting quickly became highly politicized, with one side saying Goode was intentionally trying to hit Ross with her car, and the other side saying she was trying to drive away.
Good’s partner, Rebecca Good, and other relatives claimed the couple had just dropped off their 6-year-old child at school on Jan. 7 and stopped to observe law enforcement activity.
The footage shows a red SUV driven by Rene Goode sitting upright and blocking part of the road. She presses the horn repeatedly.
A short time later, a truck carrying immigration officers pulled up, two got out and one of them ordered Jade to open her door. She backs up briefly, then turns the steering wheel toward the passenger side while the officer again says, “Get out of the car.”
At about the same time, Rebecca stood on the passenger side and tried to open the door, shouting, “Drive, baby, drive!” The SUV pulls forward and gunshots are heard as the officer opens fire in front of the vehicle.
She was then shot in the face before crashing into her car. Ross was seen walking away after the incident.
Rebecca issued a statement to Minnesota Public Radio on Friday, saying the couple stopped to support their neighbors: “We blew whistles. They had guns.”
She referred to Renee Goode as her wife. But Romanucci and Blandin have since said that Renee and Becca “were not legally married but were committed partners committed to their family.”
In surveillance footage, Judd was seen blocking the road with her four-wheel drive car for four minutes before she was killed
Judd was shot three times in the face during a protest in Minneapolis and died at the scene
In a horrific video captured at the scene, Rebecca admitted that she encouraged her wife to confront the customers. “I made her come here, it’s my fault,” she said.
Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have alleged that Judd was going after Ross that day, that she committed “domestic terrorism” and was a “professional instigator.”
But on Monday, Goode’s grieving family said it was not her at all, and that she did not have a criminal past, as many netizens claimed.
“I’ve been very quiet about this, because I wanted to wait until our family could put together a statement…and it would finally be published.” “Never think that the death of a loved one will be such a high profile matter…or a massively divisive political topic,” Morgan Fletcher, Jude’s sister-in-law, posted on Facebook.
“We’ve seen false allegations and misinformation about Renee Good being spread (criminal history? She had no criminal history),” said Fletcher, who is related to Judd’s late ex-husband, Timmy McClain Jr.