The Supreme Court Just Decided a Major Issue in Cases Like Renee Good's Shooting-and Not How You Might Expect

"After federal agents killed an unarmed American citizen in broad daylight last week, high-ranking government officials rushed to defend the shooter, framed a mother's attempt to escape an escalating confrontation as "domestic terrorism," and blamed the victim for her own death. The killing of Renee Good is not just a failure of policing-the public response by those in power should alarm every American who believes that being frightened by armed agents and trying to drive away should not be a capital offense."

"Last week, Ross fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a white mother of three, while she was in her SUV, apparently attempting to leave a situation that was becoming increasingly hostile. In cellphone video of the incident, we can see two ICE agents exit a pickup truck and approach Good's car. As one agent appears to reach through the driver's open window and tries to open the door, Good slowly reverses, then turns towards the right and drives forward slowly, attempting to leave."

"As one agent appears to reach through the driver's open window and tries to open the door, Good slowly reverses, then turns towards the right and drives forward slowly, attempting to leave. At that moment, a third officer, who is standing in front of Good's car, unholsters his gun and, while moving to the side of the vehicle, fires several shots inside, striking Good in the head. The car continues to move forward and crashes into a parked car. Good was pronounced dead shortly after."

An ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, while she was in her SUV and trying to leave as agents approached. Cellphone video shows two agents approaching and one reaching through the driver's window as Good began to drive away; a third officer fired into the vehicle, striking her in the head. The vehicle crashed, and Good was pronounced dead. High-ranking officials defended the shooter, labeled the mother's attempt to flee as "domestic terrorism," and shifted blame onto the victim. Recent Supreme Court precedent and the totality-of-the-circumstances test suggest the shooting was not a reasonable act of self-defense.

Read at Slate Magazine