Minnesota has activated the National Guard following the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old man by an ICE agent. Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis requested Guard troops to assist local police after protester Alex Pretti was killed near Nicollet Avenue. Pretti, a nurse who opposed Donald Trump’s immigration policies, was involved in a confrontation with federal officers, leading to the deployment of the Minnesota National Guard to the shooting scene and a federal building.
Details surrounding the shooting remain limited according to Police Chief Brian O’Hara, who mentioned that Pretti was believed to be a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry. On the other hand, the Department of Homeland Security stated that federal officers fired defensive shots in response to Pretti, who allegedly approached them with a handgun and resisted disarmament.
Witness videos of the incident show Pretti holding a phone with no visible weapon. The family of Pretti expressed grief and anger over the administration’s portrayal of the events, asserting that he was unarmed during the altercation. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated that Pretti interfered with a law enforcement operation but did not provide specifics on the weapon’s involvement.
The ICE agent involved in the shooting is reported to be an eight-year Border Patrol veteran. President Donald Trump criticized Governor Walz and Mayor Frey on social media, questioning the lack of local police protection for ICE officers and accusing them of inciting insurrection with their rhetoric.
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