Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delivered a sharp rebuke to a CBS journalist during a Sunday morning interview after the reporter identified the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer involved in a fatal shooting incident.
The heated exchange occurred during Noem’s appearance with Margaret Brennan, where they discussed the Jan. 7 death of Renee Good in Minneapolis.
The mother-of-one died following an encounter with ICE officers during an anti-immigration enforcement demonstration.
When Brennan mentioned ICE officer Jonathan Ross by name, noting he had been struck and hospitalized, Noem immediately interrupted the reporter with visible frustration.
“Well don’t say his name! I mean, for heaven’s sake, we shouldn’t have people continue to dox law enforcement when they have an 8,000 percent increase in death threats against them,” Noem stated forcefully.
Brennan quickly responded that Ross’s name had already entered the public domain.
Noem acknowledged this fact but insisted that continued repetition of his identity remained inappropriate given the circumstances.
The secretary explained that Ross faced an attack from Good’s vehicle and that both he and his family members have endured significant hardship since the incident.
She emphasized the broader context of threats against law enforcement personnel.
“People have attacked him and his family, and they are in jeopardy. And we have law enforcement officers every day who are getting death threats, and getting attacked at their hotels,” Noem said.
The CBS reporter attempted to inquire about Ross’s medical status, referencing reports from the previous week indicating he sustained internal bleeding in his torso.
The full extent and severity of his injuries have not been publicly clarified, as internal bleeding can range from minor bruising to serious trauma.
As Brennan pressed for information, Noem spoke over her, eventually stating only that Ross “is healing” without providing additional medical details.
When asked directly about Ross’s current condition, Noem declined to elaborate, citing standard investigative protocols.
She refused to discuss his medical records, noting such information falls under his personal discretion to share.
The conversation shifted when Brennan questioned whether an investigation into Ross would occur, noting that Rebecca Good, the deceased woman’s wife, reportedly faces her own federal probe.
The investigation into Rebecca stems from allegations that she interfered with a federal agent moments before her spouse was shot.
Brennan referenced Minnesota’s governor, who stated that the only person not under investigation for the shooting was the federal agent who fired the shots.
She asked Noem to confirm or deny this characterization.
Noem responded that the Department of Homeland Security and ICE were following identical investigative procedures used during the previous administration.
She emphasized consistency with established Biden administration policies.
After persistent questioning, Noem confirmed that Ross’s actions are subject to review, though she initially seemed reluctant to make this acknowledgment explicit.
“There always is. Every law enforcement officer knows that. When they take the oath to step up and to protect the public and put their lives on the line, they absolutely know that everything that they do will be analyzed and investigated,” Noem explained.
Medical reports indicate Good sustained four gunshot wounds during the Jan. 7 encounter.
A Minneapolis Fire Department document obtained by local media revealed she was discovered unresponsive in her vehicle with blood on her face and torso.
Paramedics found Good without breath and with an inconsistent pulse.
The gunshot wounds included two to her chest, one to her left forearm, and one to the left side of her head.
Emergency responders removed Good from the vehicle and attempted resuscitation on the sidewalk while protesters and law enforcement clashed nearby.
Despite ongoing lifesaving efforts at the scene, in transit, and at a hospital, CPR was discontinued at 10:30 a.m.
Video footage from the incident shows an officer approaching Good’s stationary Honda Pilot and reaching for the door handle while allegedly demanding she open it.
The SUV then moved forward as Ross drew his weapon, firing three shots while stepping back. The vehicle subsequently crashed into two parked cars.
Evidence suggests Good had blocked the roadway with her SUV for four minutes before the fatal shooting.
Approximately 20 seconds after arriving, a passenger believed to be Rebecca exited and later began recording.
Questions have emerged about whether Rebecca intentionally left the vehicle to document any confrontation with federal agents.
She was observed using a camera during Ross’s interaction with her wife, though the exact timing of when she began recording remains uncertain.
Reports indicate Rebecca now faces investigation regarding her connections to activist organizations and her actions preceding her wife’s death.
The probe follows the resignation of at least six federal prosecutors who objected to orders requiring them to investigate Rebecca.
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