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Updated 25 January 2026 - Demonstrations spread across U.S. cities following the killing of Alex Pretti by federal officers in Minneapolis.
Shooting sparks outrage and protests
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in subzero temperatures on Saturday to protest the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. The incident, captured in multiple videos, has ignited widespread condemnation and fueled ongoing tensions over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the city.
Conflicting accounts of the incident
Federal and state authorities have presented starkly different versions of the events leading to Pretti's death, which occurred at 09:05 local time (15:05 GMT) near Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street. The Trump administration claims Pretti approached officers with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and violently resisted attempts to disarm him, prompting an agent to fire in self-defense. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described Pretti as a "domestic terrorist," while Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino suggested he intended to "massacre" law enforcement.
However, videos from the scene show no evidence of Pretti brandishing a weapon. Instead, footage depicts him being pepper-sprayed, wrestled to the ground, and shot after an agent appeared to retrieve a gun from the struggle. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz dismissed the federal account as "nonsense and lies," stating, "I've seen the video from several angles, and it's sickening."
"Thank God we have video because, according to DHS, these seven heroic guys took an onslaught of a battalion against them or something. It's nonsense, people. It is nonsense, and it's lies."
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz
Protests spread across U.S. cities
By Saturday night, hundreds had gathered near the shooting site to light candles and chant Pretti's name. Demonstrations escalated throughout the day, with protesters decrying the shooting and ongoing ICE raids. Armed federal agents responded with tear gas and flashbang grenades.
Protests quickly spread beyond Minneapolis, with over 1,000 demonstrators marching in New York under banners reading "Justice for Alex" and "Abolish ICE." Similar rallies took place in Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, reflecting growing national outrage.
Pretti's background and family response
Pretti, a licensed gun owner with no criminal record beyond traffic violations, was participating in citywide "observation protests" against ICE operations. His parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, released a statement describing their son as a "kind-hearted soul" who wanted to "make a difference."
"Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man."
Michael and Susan Pretti
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara confirmed Pretti's legal gun ownership and clean record, further complicating the federal narrative.
Political fallout and calls for investigation
Local and state leaders have demanded the withdrawal of federal agents from Minnesota. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned how many more residents must die before the operation ends, while Governor Walz urged President Trump to "pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now."
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy called the incident "incredibly disturbing" and stressed the need for a "full joint federal and state investigation," stating, "We can trust the American people with the truth."
President Trump, however, accused local and state officials of "inciting insurrection," alleging without evidence that they ordered police to stand down during the confrontation.
Broader context of tensions in Minneapolis
The shooting follows weeks of escalating clashes between Minnesota authorities, federal agents, and protesters monitoring ICE activities. Earlier this month, an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident, during an enforcement action. State leaders claimed Good was a legal observer, while the Trump administration labeled her a "domestic terrorist."
The federal deployment aligns with Trump's pledge to execute the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. ICE agents in Minneapolis have the authority to detain individuals suspected of being in the country illegally. The city is home to the largest Somali immigrant community in the U.S., a group targeted in Trump's December crackdown following welfare fraud convictions involving some Somali immigrants.
Mayor Frey has previously described ICE agents as an "occupying force" that has "invaded" the city. Pretti's family said he joined the observation protests out of frustration with the crackdown, filming agents and alerting residents to their presence.
