U.S. federal authorities shot and killed a 37-year-old Minneapolis man, Alex Jeffery Pretti, on Saturday while carrying out an immigration enforcement action, setting off large-scale protests across the city. The incident has renewed pressure on President Donald Trump from local officials and community leaders, who are calling for the removal of heavily armed federal forces as concerns grow over the expanding federal footprint in local neighborhoods.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that the victim, identified as Alex Jeffery Pretti, died after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds and being rushed to a nearby hospital. Authorities later clarified that Pretti was a resident of Minneapolis and a US citizen, a detail that further fueled public outrage and calls for accountability.
Speaking to reporters, O’Hara urged federal agencies operating in the city to uphold the standards expected of law enforcement. He stressed that effective policing must be guided by discipline, humanity, and integrity, particularly when federal and local jurisdictions intersect during sensitive operations.
The shooting occurred amid an intensified deployment of immigration enforcement and other federal agents in Minneapolis as part of President Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown. These operations have drawn sharp criticism from state leaders, civil rights advocates, and local officials who argue that the tactics being used go far beyond immigration enforcement.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz strongly condemned the federal actions, describing them as a campaign of organised brutality rather than lawful enforcement. Addressing a news conference in Saint Paul, Walz said the situation had long ceased to be about immigration policy and warned that such operations were putting the lives of ordinary citizens at risk.
Footage circulating on social media appears to show several federal officers restraining a man on the ground moments before multiple gunshots are heard. The videos quickly went viral, prompting protests near the site of the shooting and escalating public anger over the conduct of federal agents.
In response, the Department of Homeland Security stated that a US Border Patrol agent shot and killed an individual who was armed with a handgun and resisted repeated attempts to be disarmed. DHS maintained that the agent acted in response to a perceived threat during the encounter.
However, another video filmed from a different angle appears to show the man holding what looks like a mobile phone before officers deploy pepper spray, tackle him, and open fire. The contrasting footage has raised serious questions about the sequence of events and the justification for the use of lethal force.
Chief O’Hara later noted that preliminary information suggested the deceased was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit to carry, adding another layer of complexity to the investigation. Multiple agencies are now reviewing the incident as demands grow for an independent and transparent inquiry.
Following the shooting, protesters gathered in large numbers, calling for the immediate withdrawal of federal agents from Minneapolis and an end to aggressive immigration raids. Community leaders warned that continued federal deployments risk further unrest and erosion of trust between law enforcement and the public.
