Second killing in Minneapolis by US federal agents sparks uproar
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- Federal agents fatally shoot US citizen Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, sparking protests and scrutiny over government claims.
The killing of a US citizen by federal immigration agents on Saturday, the second in Minneapolis this month, sparked new protests and impassioned demands by local leaders for the Trump administration to end its operation in the city.
Federal agents shot dead Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, while scuffling with him on an icy roadway, less than three weeks after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, in her car.
The Trump administration quickly claimed, as it did after Good's death, that Pretti had intended to harm the federal agents, even as video of the incident appeared to contradict their account.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) pointed to a pistol and ammunition it said was discovered on Pretti.
"He was there to perpetuate violence," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told a briefing, while White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller referred to Pretti as an "assassin," in a post amplified on X by Vice President JD Vance.
However, as with Good's death, cell phone footage of the incident raised serious questions about the federal government's description of the incident.
Video aired widely by US media, which was not verified, shows Pretti filming agents in the snow-lined street and directing traffic.
After an agent shoves a woman protester to the ground on the sidewalk, Pretti steps in between them and is sprayed in the face by a chemical irritant.
The agent then pulls Pretti to the ground and several officers struggle to detain him on the icy roadway.
Seconds later, as an officer apparently discovers and pulls a gun from Pretti's pants, agents open fire, also shooting his motionless body several times from a distance.
Pretti's parents in a statement circulated by US media called him a "kindhearted soul" and accused the Trump administration of telling "sickening lies" about their son.
Governor statement
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the shooting "horrific" and demanded state authorities lead the investigation.
"The federal government cannot be trusted to lead this investigation. The state will handle it, period," Walz told a news conference.
