Federal agents shoot, kill another U.S. citizen in Minnesota

by · UPI

Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Customs and Border Protection officers shot and killed an armed protester who allegedly violently resisted an arrest in Minneapolis on Saturday.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said during a news conference that local officials have identified the man who agents wrestled to the ground as he allegedly resisted arrest before the shooting as a U.S. citizen.

Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old resident of Minneapolis with no criminal record, O'Hara said.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that CBP officers were executing a warrant for an "illegal alien" wanted for deadly assault when Pretti approached them with a handgun.

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When officers tried to disarm him, he resisted, and an agent fired "defensive shots."

Medics delivered medical aid, but Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene, department officials said.

According to O'Hara, Pretti is believed to have had a permit to legally carry a gun in Minnesota, where state law allows people to openly carry or conceal a weapon as long as they have a permit, according to the Times.

It is unclear whether Pretti legally was carrying a holstered sidearm or was brandishing it, which is illegal.

The shooting happened on the city's south side, where federal agents have engaged with people protesting the ongoing immigration actions in the city -- including with tear gas and other chemicals -- CBS News and The New York Times reported.

Having seen video of ICE "pummeling one of our constituents and shooting him to death," Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, during the news conference, called on President Donald Trump to "act like a leader" and end the federal operation in Minneapolis.

"How many more residents, how many more Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?" he said.

Amid a surge of protesters as word of the man's death spread, O'Hara said "we recognize that there is a lot of anger and a lot of questions" right now, but he urged people to remain peaceful.

Gov. Tim Walz, as well as U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, said earlier Saturday they had spoken with White House officials after reports of the shooting surfaced, which would be the third in Minneapolis since ICE's ongoing "Operation Metro Surge" started in December.

In a post on X, Walz said, "Minnesota has had it. This is sickening."

"The President must end this operation," Walz posted. "Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now."

Klobuchar, in a post on X, called on Republicans in Congress to "stop your silence and stop being complicit" and urged President Donald Trump "and all your lieutenants who ordered this ICE surge: watch the horrific video of the killing today."

"The world is watching," she said. "Thousands of citizens stopped and harassed. Local police no longer able to do their work. Kids hiding. Schools closed. Get ICE out of Minnesota NOW."

The president blamed Walz and Frey for the violent encounter and said they are engaged in a cover-up following widespread reports of fraud totaling billions in Minnesota.

"We are there because of massive monetary fraud, with billions of dollars missing, and illegal criminals that were allowed to infiltrate the state through the Democrats' open border policy," Trump said in a Truth Social post.

"Much of what you're witnessing is a cover-up for this theft and fraud," the president said.

Trump accused Walz and Frey of making matters worse instead of helping to ensure relative peace and safety.

"The mayor and the governor are inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous and arrogant rhetoric!" he said.

"Instead, these sanctimonious political fools should be looking for the billions of dollars that [have] been stolen from the people of Minnesota and the United States of America," Trump added. "Let our ICE patriots do their job!"

Following the shooting death, Walz announced the Minnesota National Guard will deploy in Minneapolis at the request of Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt and city officials.

The Guardsmen will protect the Whipple Federal Building, from which federal law enforcement is operating amid the Minneapolis surge.

Deploying the soldiers there will enable local law enforcement to concentrate their efforts on maintaining peace and safety.

"The Minnesota National Guard's role is to work in support of local law enforcement and emergency responders, providing additional resources," Witt said in a news release.

"Their presence is meant to help create a secure environment where all Minnesotans can exercise their rights safely, including the right to peacefully protest," she said.

Saturday's shooting is the third time federal officers shot someone in Minneapolis since Jan. 7, when officer Jonathan Ross shot and killed Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good after she allegedly tried to run him over.

A week later, on Jan. 15, a Venezuelan immigrant allegedly in the country illegally fled arrest, crashing his vehicle into a parked car and taking off on foot.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the immigrant violently resisted arrest and, after two other people attacked the ICE agent with a shovel and a broom handle, was shot in the leg.

Protests have ratcheted up significantly since both shootings. Good's death has also sparked protests nationwide.

Additionally, local police have reported they received "endless complaints" from citizens, city officials and off-duty officers who have been stopped "with no cause" and asked to prove their citizenship.

The stops have been blamed on skin color or accent, with one encounter with an off-duty officer who reportedly had guns pulled on her, police said.

ICE Out of Minnesota protest on Jan. 23 in Minneapolis

Thousands of protesters march in sub-zero temperatures during "ICE Out" day to protest the federal government's immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Friday. Photo by Craig Lassig/UPI | License Photo