A 37-year-old nurse, Alex Pretti, was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday amid ongoing protests and a surge in federal law enforcement presence. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain largely unclear, with officials offering conflicting accounts of the events.
Alex Pretti Identified as Shooting Victim
The man killed by federal agents has been identified as Alex Pretti, a registered nurse working in the intensive care unit at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry, according to Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara.
Video Evidence Emerges
Videos circulating online depict a confrontation between Pretti and multiple law enforcement officers. One video shows Pretti being wrestled to the ground before being shot several times. A more comprehensive video shows Pretti intervening after a federal officer shoved an observer to the ground, after which he was repeatedly sprayed with a chemical agent and tackled by agents.
The video evidence suggests that an agent appeared to take a gun away from Pretti just before another agent shot him at close range, followed by a volley of additional shots. Pretti’s body then went still.
Conflicting Accounts and Political Fallout
The Department of Homeland Security, the parent agency of ICE and the border patrol, stated that an agent fired “defensive shots” and characterized protesters as “rioters” obstructing law enforcement. Border patrol commander Greg Bovino said the officer who shot Pretti has eight years of experience with the agency.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has called on President Donald Trump to “end this operation” of federal immigration enforcement agents in the city, demanding their removal. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has staged National Guard troops to help maintain order, describing the federal presence as a “federal occupation.”
Trump responded on his Truth Social platform, accusing Walz and Frey of “inciting insurrection” and defending the agents’ presence as a means to make the city safer.
Ongoing Protests and Investigation
Protesters responded to the shooting by calling for ICE to leave the city, blowing whistles, and shouting at officers. Agents responded with teargas and flash-bang grenades. This incident marks the second fatal shooting this month in Minneapolis, alongside another non-fatal shooting, amid a major crackdown by federal agents.
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