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Federal Immigration Officer Fatally Shoots Man in Minneapolis, Igniting Protests
A federal immigration officer shot and killed a 37-year-old man in Minneapolis on Saturday, triggering protests in frigid temperatures and escalating tensions in a city already reeling from another fatal shooting by immigration authorities just weeks earlier.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed the fatality but provided limited details about the circumstances. The victim was later identified by his parents as Alex Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse and a legal gun owner with a permit to carry.
The Minnesota National Guard was deployed to assist local police as hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the shooting scene and near a federal building where daily protests have occurred since early January. Governor Tim Walz had activated the Guard earlier in anticipation of growing unrest.
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said federal officers were conducting an operation as part of the administration’s immigration enforcement initiative when they encountered Pretti. According to federal officials, officers fired “defensive shots” after Pretti allegedly approached with a handgun and “violently resisted” attempts to disarm him. The officer involved is an eight-year Border Patrol veteran.
However, multiple bystander videos that surfaced shortly after the incident appear to tell a different story. In footage obtained by the Associated Press, Pretti is seen holding what appears to be a phone rather than a visible weapon. The videos show several officers surrounding Pretti, with one officer on his back and another striking him near the head multiple times before shots were fired.
The shooting has created a jurisdictional standoff between state and federal authorities. Superintendent Drew Evans of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reported that federal officers blocked his agency from accessing the shooting scene, even after investigators returned with a signed judicial warrant.
Governor Walz expressed a lack of confidence in federal officials and stated that the state would lead the investigation. “Our demand today is for those federal agencies that are operating in our city to do so with the same discipline, humanity and integrity that effective law enforcement in this country demands,” Chief O’Hara said, appealing for calm.
Customs and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino defended the officer involved, noting his extensive training as a range safety officer and in using less-lethal force. “This is only the latest attack on law enforcement. Across the country, the men and women of DHS have been attacked, shot at,” Bovino said.
The shooting quickly drew national political attention. President Donald Trump weighed in on social media, sharing images of a gun that immigration officials said was recovered at the scene. Trump criticized the local Democratic leadership, writing that the governor and mayor “are inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric.”
Saturday’s incident occurred just over a mile from where 37-year-old Renee Good was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer on January 7. That shooting has already sparked weeks of daily protests across the Twin Cities, with demonstrators calling for ICE to leave Minnesota.
Despite temperatures plunging to -6 degrees Fahrenheit (-21 Celsius), protesters continued to gather at the scene. Many dragged garbage dumpsters into streets to block access while chanting “ICE out now.” Some confrontations between protesters and federal agents turned heated, with officers deploying flash bangs and using batons on the crowd.
“They’re killing my neighbors!” shouted Minneapolis resident Josh Koskie amid the protests.
Governor Walz said he had been in contact with the White House and urged President Trump to end what the Department of Homeland Security has called its largest-ever immigration enforcement operation.
The shooting comes at a time of heightened tensions over immigration enforcement policies nationally, with federal authorities increasing operations in various cities across the country. Minneapolis, with its significant immigrant population, has seen particular scrutiny and resistance to these enforcement actions.
Local community leaders have called for transparency in the investigation and for federal immigration authorities to scale back operations in the city while tensions remain high.
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10 Comments
This is a tragic and concerning incident. Immigration enforcement operations must be conducted with great care and restraint to avoid loss of life. I hope a thorough investigation provides more clarity on the circumstances.
Agreed. The use of deadly force raises serious questions that need to be answered. De-escalation should always be the priority in these sensitive situations.
The details provided raise serious concerns about the circumstances leading to this fatal shooting. I hope a thorough and impartial investigation can shed light on what transpired.
Agreed. Transparency and accountability are crucial in cases involving the use of deadly force by law enforcement, regardless of the context.
This is a complex and sensitive issue that touches on immigration policy, law enforcement practices, and community relations. I hope all parties involved can work towards a peaceful resolution.
Deploying the National Guard to assist with immigration enforcement is a highly charged and controversial move. I worry this could further inflame tensions in the community.
Yes, the involvement of the National Guard signals an escalation that may exacerbate the situation. Restraint and open dialogue are essential to find a peaceful resolution.
As an ICU nurse, the victim appears to have been a contributing member of the community. His death is truly tragic and raises important questions about the use of force in immigration operations.
The activation of the National Guard suggests the situation has escalated significantly. I hope the authorities can restore order while also addressing the underlying concerns of the community.
Agreed. The involvement of the National Guard is a concerning development that could further inflame tensions. De-escalation should be the top priority.