Minnesota has activated the National Guard following the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old man by an ICE agent. The Mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, requested Guard troops’ assistance after protester Alex Pretti was killed near Nicollet Avenue during a clash with federal officers. Pretti, an ICU nurse who opposed Donald Trump’s immigration policies, was reportedly armed with a gun and engaged in a confrontation with law enforcement.
The Minnesota National Guard was deployed to the scene of the shooting and a nearby federal building where tensions escalated between officers and demonstrators. Police Chief Brian O’Hara stated that details leading up to the shooting were limited, but it was believed that Pretti possessed a valid gun permit.
In a conflicting account, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson claimed that federal officers fired in self-defense as Pretti allegedly approached them with a handgun and resisted disarmament. Video footage captured by witnesses showed Pretti holding a phone but did not clearly depict him brandishing a weapon. The incident occurred close to where another individual was killed by an ICE officer earlier, triggering widespread protests.
Pretti’s family expressed grief and anger in a statement, refuting claims made by the authorities and emphasizing his peaceful intentions as a nurse striving to make a positive impact. The family demanded truth and justice for their son, condemning the ICE agents’ actions as unjust and cowardly.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned that Pretti interfered with a law enforcement operation but did not provide specifics on his actions with the weapon. The ICE agent involved in the shooting was noted as an experienced Border Patrol veteran.
Following the shooting, President Donald Trump criticized Governor Walz and Mayor Frey on social media, questioning the lack of local police intervention and accusing them of inciting unrest through their rhetoric. Trump also highlighted the retrieved gun as evidence in the aftermath of the incident.