MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — On Saturday, a federal immigration officer shot and killed a man in Minneapolis, prompting hundreds of protesters to take to the cold streets. This incident escalated tensions in a city already reeling from a separate fatal shooting weeks earlier.
The deceased has been identified as Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse known for protesting against former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Following the shooting, a large crowd gathered, resulting in confrontations between protesters and federal immigration officers, who were equipped with batons and utilized flashbangs to disperse the crowd.
In response to the growing unrest, the Minnesota National Guard was deployed by Democratic Governor Tim Walz to assist local police forces. Troops were stationed at both the scene of the shooting and a nearby federal building where protests had frequently occurred.
Specific details surrounding the shooting remain sparse. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara indicated that federal officers were conducting an operation when the incident occurred. According to a statement from Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, federal officers opened fire after a man with a handgun approached and resisted attempts to disarm him. The officer involved in the shooting is an eight-year veteran of the Border Patrol.
However, videos captured by bystanders reveal Pretti holding a phone, with no weapon visible. O'Hara stated that authorities believe Pretti was a "lawful gun owner with a permit to carry." This shooting marks another chapter in the ongoing tensions regarding immigration enforcement, occurring just over a mile from where Renee Good, another individual, was killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers earlier in January.
Footage from the shooting incident depicts a chaotic scene, with officers clashing with protesters and escalating tensions palpable in the atmosphere. O’Hara has called for calm, urging both federal agencies and the public to respond with discipline and humanity.
In response to the incident, Trump criticized Governor Walz and the Minneapolis mayor on social media, suggesting their rhetoric is inciting disorder. He questioned the local police's absence during the incident and expressed concerns about the government's handling of federal agents' safety.
Despite the severe weather conditions, with temperatures plummeting to -6 degrees Fahrenheit (-21 degrees Celsius), protests continued throughout the day. Demonstrators confronted federal officers, while chants demanding that ICE leave Minnesota filled the air. Minneapolis resident Josh Koskie voiced the community's anger, exclaiming, “They’re killing my neighbors!”
The situation has led local officials to demand accountability and clarity regarding the use of federal force in the city. Governor Walz expressed a lack of confidence in federal authorities and indicated that the state would oversee the investigation into the shooting. The challenge of federal officers obstructing local investigations further complicates matters, underscoring the friction between local and federal law enforcement.
As the community grapples with the consequences of this incident, the call for reform in immigration enforcement and police practices has only intensified, with protests likely to continue in the face of ongoing tensions.
