A US Border Patrol agent has shot and killed a 37-year-old intensive care nurse in Minneapolis, Minnesota, marking the second fatal shooting of a person by federal immigration agents this month. The incident occurred on Saturday, as a series of protests against the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the state continued.
The victim, identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, was reportedly involved in protesting the actions of ICE and had participated in demonstrations following the killing of Renee Good, another woman who was shot and killed by an ICE agent on January 7. Pretti's family described him as a caring person who was upset about the treatment of immigrants.
The shooting occurred after Pretti appeared to intervene in a confrontation between immigration agents and protesters. According to eyewitness videos posted on social media, Pretti was seen trying to protect a woman who had been pushed to the ground by ICE agents when he was attacked by federal officers and shot multiple times.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initially stated that Pretti was shot after violently resisting efforts to disarm him, but no evidence was provided to support this claim. The agent who fired the shots claimed to have feared for his life and the lives of other officers, citing "extensive training" as a Border Patrol agent.
However, Pretti's family disputed this account, saying that their son was not armed when he was shot. They described the scene as chaotic, with protesters being pepper-sprayed and tear-gassed by federal agents.
The incident has sparked outrage among protesters and community leaders, who have called for an investigation into the killing. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey repeated his call to end the federal immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, while state officials demanded that the state lead the investigation into Pretti's shooting.
Gov. Tim Walz said videos of Pretti's shooting were "sickening" and urged the state to take the lead on the investigation. The governor also criticized the federal government for its handling of the situation, saying it was "unacceptable" that a state agency could not handle such an investigation.
The shooting comes amid growing tensions between protesters and federal agents in Minneapolis, where thousands have taken to the streets to oppose ICE's presence. The city has seen several high-profile detentions, including one involving children, which has further inflamed the situation.
A neighbor of Pretti's described him as a "gentle" person who would never attack a police officer. Another protester said that while she did not see the shooting, the fact that Pretti was armed should not justify his killing.
The investigation into Pretti's death is ongoing, with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension leading the probe. The FBI and Justice Department are assisting in the investigation, although it appears to be a shift from standard procedure.
The victim, identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, was reportedly involved in protesting the actions of ICE and had participated in demonstrations following the killing of Renee Good, another woman who was shot and killed by an ICE agent on January 7. Pretti's family described him as a caring person who was upset about the treatment of immigrants.
The shooting occurred after Pretti appeared to intervene in a confrontation between immigration agents and protesters. According to eyewitness videos posted on social media, Pretti was seen trying to protect a woman who had been pushed to the ground by ICE agents when he was attacked by federal officers and shot multiple times.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initially stated that Pretti was shot after violently resisting efforts to disarm him, but no evidence was provided to support this claim. The agent who fired the shots claimed to have feared for his life and the lives of other officers, citing "extensive training" as a Border Patrol agent.
However, Pretti's family disputed this account, saying that their son was not armed when he was shot. They described the scene as chaotic, with protesters being pepper-sprayed and tear-gassed by federal agents.
The incident has sparked outrage among protesters and community leaders, who have called for an investigation into the killing. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey repeated his call to end the federal immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, while state officials demanded that the state lead the investigation into Pretti's shooting.
Gov. Tim Walz said videos of Pretti's shooting were "sickening" and urged the state to take the lead on the investigation. The governor also criticized the federal government for its handling of the situation, saying it was "unacceptable" that a state agency could not handle such an investigation.
The shooting comes amid growing tensions between protesters and federal agents in Minneapolis, where thousands have taken to the streets to oppose ICE's presence. The city has seen several high-profile detentions, including one involving children, which has further inflamed the situation.
A neighbor of Pretti's described him as a "gentle" person who would never attack a police officer. Another protester said that while she did not see the shooting, the fact that Pretti was armed should not justify his killing.
The investigation into Pretti's death is ongoing, with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension leading the probe. The FBI and Justice Department are assisting in the investigation, although it appears to be a shift from standard procedure.
... I mean, he was just trying to protect someone who got pushed to the ground by ICE agents and then he gets shot multiple times? It's like, what even happened here? The stories of him being a caring person and not being armed when he got shot don't add up with the official story at all 
. I don’t get why the agent claimed he was resisting or something, it just seems so out of proportion for what was happening on the ground.
. Thousands of people taking to the streets, demanding action... it's all very intense and scary.
this guy was just tryna protect some1 & hes killed by federal agents like wat?? i cant even handle thinkin bout it 
alex pretti sounds like such a nice person he didnt even deserve 2 die over somethin so senseless 
i wonder if dey really got proof dat he resisted or not lol idk why dey say he was armed when de fam says hes never carried a weapon in his life 
anywayz can we just talk about how messed up it is that dey cant even handle an investigation on their own? 
This is so sad 
... another innocent person losing their life 
... always something crazy going down in Minneapolis 
didn't he just want to protect people? 
but this is getting out of hand 
... hope they get the truth soon 
. the way they're treating protesters and immigrants is so unacceptable. 
. this isn't just about alex, it's about the system that allows this kind of violence to happen. [
i saw that video of him trying to protect someone and i couldn't believe it happened to him. the fact that he wasn't even armed and still got shot multiple times is just crazy... 
and the part where the agent says he feared for his life is laughable 
cuz we all know that doesnt sound legit at all 
like whats taken them so long to realize this was a hate crime?!?! 
and Gov Walz is right on point with his "sickening" comments 
but what can he do? its like the feds are just gonna sweep it under the rug 
we need change NOW 
. Those protesters were exercising their right to free speech and peaceful assembly, and yet they're met with violence from law enforcement. It's like we're living in a different country over here 
.
. This incident should be a wake-up call for all of us to stand up for what's right, even if it means going against the system 
ICE needs a major revamp 
another one bites the dust... literally 
. Can't believe these agents think they're above the law just 'cause they wear badges 
. The whole thing reeks of "we're justified because we said so" 
.
... but still, we need to make sure everyone is safe and protected. 
. it's always about protecting the establishment, not the people 
. I mean, can you even believe that? The family of the victim, Alex Pretti, are saying he wasn't armed and didn't do anything wrong, but the agent is claiming self-defense 
. And now the governor is saying it's "unacceptable" that the state can't handle the investigation 
.