A Border Patrol agent’s fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis sparked mass protests, political backlash, and growing demands for federal immigration officers to leave Minnesota.
Minneapolis Unrest National Guard Deployed After Border Patrol Shooting (X/ @RpsAgainstTrump)
Minneapolis Shooting: Tensions rose in Minnesota after a U.S. Border Patrol agent shot and killed a man in Minneapolis. The incident led to large protests and political anger. Hundreds of people came out into the freezing streets. The city was already tense because of another fatal shooting that had happened weeks earlier.
Democratic leaders demanded that federal immigration officers leave Minnesota after the incident.
Family members said the man who died was Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse. They said he had taken part in protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
After the shooting, an angry crowd gathered at the scene. Protesters argued with federal officers. Officers used batons and flash-bang devices to control the crowd.
Officials said the Minnesota National Guard helped local police on orders from Governor Tim Walz. Troops were sent to the shooting site and to a nearby federal building where protests had been happening daily.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara said investigators still had limited details about what happened before the shooting.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, said federal officers were carrying out an operation. She said they fired “defensive shots” after a man with a handgun approached them and “violently resisted” when they tried to disarm him.
However, videos recorded by bystanders showed Pretti holding a phone. No visible weapon appeared in those clips.
O’Hara said police believe Pretti was a “lawful gun owner with a permit to carry.”
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti showed up to “impede a law enforcement operation.” She questioned why he had a weapon but did not say whether he pointed it at officers.
Federal officials said the agent who fired the shot has eight years of experience with Border Patrol.
President Trump criticized Governor Walz and the Minneapolis mayor on social media. He posted pictures of a gun officials said was found and wrote: “What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?”
Trump also said the Democratic leaders “are inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric.”
Several Democratic lawmakers demanded federal immigration officers leave the state. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said: “We have a responsibility to protect Americans from tyranny.”
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer later said Democrats would not support a funding bill that includes money for DHS. This raises the risk of a partial government shutdown when funding runs out on January 30.
Pretti’s family said they were grieving and angry. They described him as a caring person who wanted to help others through his nursing work.
“The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed,” the family statement said. “Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.”
Video obtained by the Associated Press showed officers pushing people on the street. One officer shoved a person wearing a brown jacket. That person held onto a man, believed to be Pretti. Officers then surrounded the man.
At least seven officers tried to control him. One officer hit him with a canister. Officers tried to pull his arms back while he appeared to resist. A gunshot was heard. Officers stepped back as the man lay still on the ground.
Police Chief O’Hara asked for calm. He said federal agencies working in the city must act with discipline and humanity.
“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,” the chief said. “We urge everyone to remain peaceful.”
Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino said officers across the country face attacks. He said the agent involved had strong training.
Governor Walz said he does not trust federal officials and that Minnesota would lead the investigation. However, Drew Evans of the state investigation bureau said federal officers blocked his team from the scene, even after they had a warrant.
Protests also happened in cities like New York, Washington, and Los Angeles. In Minneapolis, people gathered despite extremely cold weather.
Some protesters shouted at officers and called them “cowards.” People blocked streets with dumpsters. Others held signs saying “Justice for Alex Pretti.”
As night came, hundreds gathered quietly at a memorial. Nearby shops stayed open to offer warmth, drinks, and snacks to protesters.
One protester, Caleb Spike, said, “It feels like every day something crazier happens. What’s happening in our community is wrong, it’s sickening, it’s disgusting.”
