The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that on 24/1, a man carrying a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun approached Border Patrol agents. This occurred while officials were conducting an operation targeting undocumented immigrants in Minneapolis, Minnesota. When officials attempted to disarm him, the man "resisted fiercely."
"Fearing for his life and the safety of other officers, an agent fired shots in self-defense. On-scene medical personnel immediately administered first aid, but the individual died at the location," the statement read.
Video circulating online shows the man, identified by local media as 37-year-old US nurse Alex Pretti, appearing to shield a female protester from pepper spray when a federal agent pulled him to the ground.
Several officers then attempted to subdue Pretti before an agent fired a shot. Pretti was hit by multiple additional rounds as officers moved away.
This incident occurred less than three weeks after another US citizen, Renee Good, was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis.
Despite freezing temperatures, a crowd quickly gathered after the shooting, preventing state law enforcement from securing the scene, according to a Minnesota Department of Public Safety official.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz described the event as "horrific" and requested a state investigation. Federal officials had previously taken the controversial step of barring local investigators from probing Good's death.
"The federal government cannot be trusted to lead this investigation. The state will do it, period," he emphasized.
Police Chief Brian O'Hara stated that officials believe the victim was "a legal gun owner with a permit to carry." Minnesota law permits citizens to openly carry firearms with a license.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey urged US President Donald Trump to halt the federal immigration crackdown, an activity that has sometimes sparked violent protests.
"This is a time to act as a leader. Put Minneapolis and America first right now and work towards peace," the official said.
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Federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, United States on 24/1. Photo: AP |
Meanwhile, Trump continued to criticize Walz and Frey, accusing the Democratic officials of "inciting riots" through their statements. President Trump had previously threatened to deploy troops to Minnesota by activating the Insurrection Act.
Minnesota became a significant concern for the Trump administration starting in 12/2025, when the United States Department of Homeland Security launched a large-scale immigration enforcement operation called Metro Surge. The multi-week campaign resulted in hundreds of arrests and triggered clashes between protesters and federal agents.
Before this latest event, federal agents had shot two people in Minnesota: US citizen Renee Good was killed, and Venezuelan immigrant Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis was injured. Minnesota officials have sued the Trump administration over the operation, arguing that the increased law enforcement presence in the state was an unconstitutional and politically motivated move.
Pham Giang (According to AFP)
