The man who was killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis yesterday has been identified as 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti.
Disturbing details are continuing to emerge around the shooting, with multiple news outlets citing footage that directly contradicts claims made by law enforcement.
Donald Trump’s Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem labeled Mr. Pretti a ‘domestic terrorist’, while Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino suggested he was plotting to ‘massacre law enforcement’.
However, the New York Times and Guardian have said videos from the scene back up eyewitness accounts who say Mr. Pretti never drew his gun – which he was legally permitted to carry.
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Images instead show him holding a phone to his chest as he films the ICE agents challenging him.
The agents appeared to open fire after Mr Pretti was tackled to the ground by officials and had his own gun removed. At least 10 shots are then heard.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he has pleaded with the White House to end its immigration crackdown in the state following the death.
The latest shooting happened amid widespread daily protests in the Twin Cities since the January 7 shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good.
Mother-of-three Ms Good was killed when an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fired into her vehicle.
Donald Trump weighed in on the latest incident with a lengthy Truth Social post, in which he criticised local police for not doing more to ‘protect’ his ICE officers.
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Federal agents have shot another person in Minneapolis, said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (Picture: X)
Accompanied by a photo of a firearm, he wrote: ‘This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go – What is that all about?
‘Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers? The Mayor and the Governor called them off? It is stated that many of these Police were not allowed to do their job, that ICE had to protect themselves — Not an easy thing to do!’
McLaughlin said officers fired ‘defensive shots’ after a man with a handgun approached them and ‘violently resisted’ when officers tried to disarm him.
In a statement to local outlet Kare 11, Mr Pretti’s parents said the ‘sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting’.
They said: ‘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.
‘Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.’
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said police believe the man was a ‘lawful gun owner with a permit to carry’.
He appealed for calm, both from the public and from federal law enforcement.
‘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. We recognize that there is a lot of anger and a lot of questions around what has happened, but we need people to remain peaceful in the area.’
An angry crowd gathered after the shooting and screamed profanities at federal officers, calling them ‘cowards’ and telling them to go home.
One officer responded mockingly as he walked away, telling them: ‘Boo hoo.’
Agents elsewhere shoved a yelling protester into a car.
The intersection where the shooting has been blocked off, and Border Patrol agents are on the scene wielding batons.
A person on a balcony watches the scuffles between federal agents and community members (Picture: Reuters)
The shooting happened a day after thousands of demonstrators protesting the crackdown on immigrants crowded the city’s streets in frigid weather, calling for federal law enforcement to leave.
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar has expressed outrage at the shooting of a man during an immigration operation.
‘Donald Trump and all your lieutenants who ordered this ICE surge: watch the horrific video of the killing today. The world is watching. Thousands of citizens stopped and harassed. Local police no longer able to do their work. Kids hiding. Schools closed. Get ICE out of Minnesota,’ Klobuchar said in a message posted on X.
Federal agents confront protestors in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Picture: Getty)
Minnesota Senator Tina Smith issued a statement after the shooting of a man during an ICE operation.
She said: ‘We are gathering more information, but ICE must leave now so MPD can secure the scene and do their jobs.’
Representative Angie Craig said in a statement that she has seen with ‘my own eyes the video of another horrific killing by ICE agents this morning in Minneapolis. This is sickening.
‘The agency is beyond out of control. How much more evidence do my Republican colleagues in Minnesota need to speak out?’
Representative Ilhan Omar, who Trump has repeatedly taken aim at over allegations of fraud, issued a statement after the shooting of a man by federal officers in Minnesota.
‘I am absolutely heartbroken, horrified, and appalled that federal agents murdered another member of our community. It is beyond shameful these federal agents are targeting our residents instead of protecting them,’ she said in a statement.
‘This isn’t isolated or accidental.
‘The Trump administration is trying to beat us into submission rather than protect us. …This administration cannot continue violating constitutional rights under the guise of immigration enforcement.’
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