Federal agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Saturday, prompting significant public outcry and renewed concerns over immigration enforcement practices. The victim, identified as 37-year-old Alex Pretti, was a U.S. citizen and a nurse who lived and worked in the city.
Pretti’s death marked the second fatal shooting related to federal immigration operations in the city within a month. According to officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the shooting occurred as they were conducting a 'targeted' immigration operation, during which Pretti allegedly confronted them while armed with a handgun.
The DHS claims that agents fired their weapons in self-defense after Pretti resisted attempts to disarm him. However, video evidence has emerged that contradicts this narrative, depicting Pretti with a phone in his hand instead of a weapon. Eyewitnesses, local officials, and Pretti's family have voiced strong disagreement with the official account, accusing the authorities of spreading 'sickening lies.'
The tensions around the incident have escalated, leading to protests and calls from local leaders for federal agents to withdraw from Minneapolis. Pretti’s parents have publicly demanded the truth surrounding their son’s death, stating, 'Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends.'
The incident raises pressing questions about law enforcement practices, particularly regarding the use of force in immigration enforcement operations, and has reignited conversations about the need for accountability and transparency.
