The fatal shooting of a United States citizen by federal immigration agents on Saturday, the second such incident in Minneapolis this month, has ignited fresh protests and intensified calls from local leaders for the Trump administration to halt its immigration operation in the city.
Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, during a confrontation on an icy road.
His death comes less than three weeks after another fatal shooting involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in which officer gunfire killed 37-year-old Renee Good while she sat in her vehicle.
As with the earlier case, the Trump administration quickly asserted that Pretti posed a threat to federal agents. Officials claimed he intended to harm them, despite video footage circulating publicly that appears to contradict that narrative.
The Department of Homeland Security said a pistol and ammunition were found on Pretti at the scene. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters that “He was there to perpetuate violence,” while White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller described Pretti as an “assassin,” a remark amplified on X by Vice President JD Vance.
However, cell phone video of the incident has raised serious doubts about the official version of events. Footage broadcast by US media, which AFP has not independently verified, shows Pretti recording federal agents on a snow-lined street while directing traffic.
After an agent pushes a woman protester to the ground on the sidewalk, Pretti steps between them and is sprayed in the face with a chemical irritant. The video then shows an agent pulling him to the ground, followed by several officers attempting to restrain him on the icy roadway.
Moments later, as one officer appears to pull a gun from Pretti’s pants, agents open fire, shooting him multiple times — including after his body appears motionless.
In a statement circulated by US media, Pretti’s parents described him as a “kindhearted soul” and accused the Trump administration of spreading “sickening lies” about their son.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the killing as “horrific” and insisted that state authorities, not federal agencies, must oversee the investigation.
“The federal government cannot be trusted to lead this investigation. The state will handle it, period,” Walz said at a press conference.
Federal officials previously blocked local authorities from participating in the investigation into Good’s death, a move that drew sharp criticism.
On Saturday, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana called for a joint inquiry into Pretti’s killing.
“The events in Minneapolis are incredibly disturbing. The credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake,” Cassidy wrote on X. “There must be a full joint federal and state investigation. We can trust the American people with the truth.”
As outrage mounted, President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric against Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing the Democratic leaders of “inciting insurrection” through their statements. Trump has previously threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy troops to Minnesota.
The city has seen a heavy federal presence as the president intensifies a nationwide campaign to deport undocumented migrants, with thousands of ICE agents deployed to Minneapolis.
Tensions were further inflamed earlier this week by the detention of a five-year-old boy during an attempt to arrest his father.
Mayor Frey urged the president to bring the operation to an end, warning that it was fueling unrest.
“This is a moment to act like a leader. Put Minneapolis, put America first in this moment—let’s achieve peace. Let’s end this operation,” Frey said.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the aftermath of the shooting created an “incredibly volatile scene,” with protesters arriving before authorities could secure the area for investigation.
He later confirmed that Minnesota National Guard troops would assist in enforcing a vehicle exclusion zone around the site.
Local resident Maria, 56, told AFP that tensions in the city were worsening. “They’re attacking and terrorizing our communities right now,” she said.
Despite freezing temperatures, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in a Minneapolis park on Saturday evening. The shooting came just a day after tens of thousands rallied downtown to protest the federal immigration operation.
O’Hara also said police believe Pretti had no significant criminal history and was a “lawful gun owner with a permit to carry.”
Some gun rights advocates—many of whom typically support the president—expressed concern over the administration’s immediate linkage of Pretti’s legal firearm possession to alleged violent intent.
Gun Owners of America condemned remarks by California federal prosecutor Bill Essayli, who wrote on X: “If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you.”
“The Second Amendment protects Americans’ right to bear arms while protesting — a right the federal government must not infringe upon,” the group said.
What you should know
The killing of Alex Pretti has deepened scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics in Democratic-led cities, particularly Minneapolis, where tensions have been rising amid mass deportation efforts.
With two US citizens killed by federal agents in the same city within weeks, trust between local authorities and federal agencies has eroded sharply. Conflicting official statements, graphic video evidence, and blocked investigations have fueled public anger and bipartisan calls for transparency.
The incident also highlights growing friction between immigration enforcement and constitutional rights, especially regarding protest activity and lawful gun ownership, as the Trump administration pushes an aggressive immigration agenda nationwide.
