In the second such incident this month, a U.S. citizen was killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis on Saturday, triggering fierce protests and condemnation from local leaders.
Officials with the Department of Homeland Security said a Border Patrol agent fired in self-defense after a 37-year-old man, identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, allegedly resisted attempts to disarm him while armed with a handgun during an immigration enforcement operation. Pretti, a registered nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Videos circulating online appear to contradict the official account. One clip showed Pretti standing in the street filming agents with his cellphone.
The footage shows an agent deploying pepper spray at Pretti and other protesters. As Pretti tries to protect himself from the spray and assist others, several agents tackle him to the ground and strike him in the head and body.
While holding Pretti on the ground, one of the agents draws his weapon and fires multiple shots. Pretti’s body is later seen lying in the street.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the man who was killed was a lawful gun owner with no criminal record beyond traffic violations. As people protested the shooting, city police and Minnesota state troopers moved in to manage the crowd and maintain order.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the incident and said the federal government cannot be trusted to lead this investigation. "I've seen the video from several angles and it's
sickening. The federal government cannot be trusted to lead this investigation - the state will handle it," he said.
The incident is the latest in a series of shootings as US President Donald Trump intensified the immigration push and increased scrutiny on the crackdown
Earlier this month, Renee Good, a Minnesota woman, was shot fatally by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Jonathan Ross.