Federal agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Saturday, the second person to be fatally shot in the city during the Trump administration's immigration enforcement crackdown this month.
Local officials identified the man as 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a US citizen who lived in Minneapolis and worked as a nurse.
Videos have emerged showing a scuffle between Border Patrol agents and Pretti in the lead-up to the shooting. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that the agents fired in self-defense after Pretti allegedly resisted their attempts to disarm him while armed with a handgun.
Eyewitnesses and Pretti's family have challenged the official narrative, emphasizing that he was holding a phone, not a weapon. His parents urged the administration to cease spreading what they termed sickening lies about their son, imploring for the truth about his character to be revealed.
The incident ignited protests and reinforced calls from local leaders for federal agents to withdraw from the city as unrest over immigration enforcement practices continues to grow.
A Border Patrol commander indicated that Pretti approached agents with a "9mm semi-automatic" handgun, but video footage from the scene shows Pretti filming the agents with his phone while attempting to de-escalate a situation involving bystanders. Multiple witnesses reported that he did not display any weapon during the confrontation.
Following the shooting, DHS shared a purported image of a firearm allegedly belonging to Pretti, along with claims regarding a lack of identification. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara stated that Pretti was believed to have had a permit for the gun.
In an emotional family statement, Pretti's parents expressed anger and heartbreak, reaffirming their conviction that their son was unjustly characterized and affirming his dedication to caring for veterans as a nurse.
