Key Takeaways
- An American citizen, Alex Pretti, was shot dead by federal agents in Minneapolis, sparking a political reckoning in the US.
- The circumstances of Pretti’s death are contested, with footage showing him being wrestled to the ground and shot, but the Department of Homeland Security claims he was carrying a 9mm semi-automatic handgun.
- The incident has reignited tensions between ICE and anti-ICE activists in Minneapolis, with protests and clashes between federal agents and demonstrators.
- The Trump administration has vowed to intensify its special enforcement operation in Minneapolis, despite calls from local leaders to end it.
- Democrats have expressed outrage over the incident, with some calling for the defunding of ICE, while some Republicans have also expressed unease and called for a joint federal and state investigation.
Introduction to the Incident
The US is reeling from the shooting death of an American citizen, Alex Pretti, by federal agents in Minneapolis. The incident, which occurred less than three weeks after another fatal shooting in the same city, has sparked a political reckoning and reignited tensions between ICE and anti-ICE activists. Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was shot by a federal officer during a targeted operation against an illegal immigrant with a criminal record. The circumstances of his death are contested, with footage showing him being wrestled to the ground and shot, but the Department of Homeland Security claims he was carrying a 9mm semi-automatic handgun.
The Circumstances of Pretti’s Death
The Department of Homeland Security said Pretti was carrying a 9mm semi-automatic handgun when he approached the officers as they were conducting a targeted operation. However, footage of the incident appears to show Pretti holding a phone, not a gun. While DHS said he approached officers "with" a weapon, they did not say whether he was brandishing it when he was killed. Federal agents point weapons at protesters near the site of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino avoided answering questions about whether Pretti was holding a gun when he was killed.
Reaction from Local Leaders
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey pleaded with US President Donald Trump to end ICE’s special enforcement operation in Minneapolis, saying a great American city was being "invaded by its own federal government". Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he had spoken with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles following the shooting and demanded she withdraw ICE from the state. Walz said the state must conduct the investigation, and that the federal government cannot be trusted to lead it. He also said that he had seen the "sickening" video from several angles and that it was a "campaign of organised brutality against our state".
Protests and Clashes
Hundreds of protesters who swarmed to the location where Pretti was killed clashed with federal agents on Minneapolis’ frosty streets throughout the afternoon. Officers repeatedly fired tear gas and pepper balls at demonstrators, who yelled "shame" and "f— ICE". Local police deemed it an unauthorised gathering and dispatched officers to the scene. The city also requested assistance from the Minnesota National Guard, and Walz said it had been activated. Tensions between ICE and anti-ICE activists in Minneapolis have been extraordinarily high since Good was fatally shot on January 7.
Political Fallout
The incident has sparked a political firestorm, with Democrats and Republicans trading blame and accusations. Vice President JD Vance said ICE wanted to work with local police to defuse tensions, but it was barred by the state’s Democratic leaders. Trump posted a photo of the gun that allegedly belonged to the deceased man, blaming Walz and Frey for inciting insurrection with "pompous, dangerous and arrogant rhetoric". Democrats, including centrists who have opposed moves to abolish ICE, said they would try to block a funding bill for the DHS that recently passed the House of Representatives but is yet to pass the Senate.
Calls for Investigation and Accountability
Some Republicans also expressed unease about what unfolded, with Republican senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana saying the events in Minneapolis were "incredibly disturbing" and calling for a joint federal and state investigation. "The credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake," he said. "We can trust the American people with the truth." Hakeem Jeffries, leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives, said Trump and the Republican Party were trying to gaslight the nation. "Trust your eyes. Not extremist lies. The video exposing the brutal slaying of VA nurse Alex Pretti speaks for itself," he said.
