Federal Agents Kill Nurse in Minneapolis, Sparking Protests and Political Fury
Federal officers have moved against protesters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, following the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old nurse by federal agents on Saturday. The incident has ignited widespread outrage, with demonstrators taking to the streets and local leaders demanding an end to the federal operation.
What We Know About the Alex Pretti Killing
A 37-year-old US citizen named Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday. Pretti was a registered nurse working in the intensive care unit at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. According to Minneapolis police chief Brian O'Hara, his only known previous interaction with law enforcement was for traffic tickets, and he was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE and the border patrol, stated that Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene. The agency claimed an agent fired "defensive shots" and characterized protesters as "rioters," estimating about 200 people were on the scene in south Minneapolis trying to "obstruct and assault law enforcement." Border patrol commander Greg Bovino confirmed that an officer with eight years of experience at his agency shot and killed Pretti.
Video Evidence and Protest Response
Videos circulating online show disturbing footage of the incident. One video matches the reported location and depicts a man being wrestled to the ground by several law enforcement officers before being shot multiple times, with at least two officers seen with weapons drawn. A second, more comprehensive video obtained by Drop Site News suggests Pretti came to the defense of an observer who had been shoved to the ground by a federal officer. In this footage, the officer sprays Pretti with a chemical agent repeatedly before tackling him, with at least five agents surrounding him on the ground and one appearing to fire a shot at close range, followed by a volley of more shots.
Protesters responded to the shooting by calling "shame, shame" at officers, blowing whistles, and shouting for ICE to leave the city. Federal agents countered with teargas and flash-bang grenades. This marks the second fatal shooting this month in Minneapolis, amid a major crackdown by federal agents in Minnesota, with officials urging people to "remain peaceful and recognize there is a lot of anger and questions around what has happened."
Political Fallout and Demands for Action
Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey has called on Donald Trump to "end this operation" of federal immigration enforcement agents surging into the city, demanding the US president "take action now to remove these federal agents." At the same press conference, police chief Brian O'Hara acknowledged immense anger but pleaded for calm.
Minnesota governor Tim Walz has staged National Guard troops ready to help maintain order in Minneapolis as protests and outrage continue. Walz activated them earlier in January, putting them under his orders to be ready if needed, with some troops initially guarding a federal building. In a strongly worded press conference, Walz called the actions of immigration enforcement officers a "federal occupation" and described bystander footage of Pretti's fatal shooting as "sickening."
Donald Trump responded on his Truth Social platform, accusing Walz and Frey of "inciting insurrection" with their calls to end the federal surge. Trump argued the agents were there to make the city safer, while local leaders contended they were instilling fear and behaving violently, making the city much less safe.
The situation remains tense, with much still unknown or unconfirmed about the specifics of the shooting and the broader federal crackdown, as Minneapolis grapples with this latest tragedy and its repercussions.
