Federal agents fatally shoot another Minneapolis resident; Minnesota officials say feds deny access to shooting scene

Videos quickly emerged Saturday showing the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis protester by a Border Patrol agent. 

Bystander videos verified by CBS News show the scene from multiple angles, starting shortly before the encounter that ended in the shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an American citizen who worked as an ICU nurse.

The events unfolded at around 9 a.m. Saturday. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino said officers were pursuing a man in the country illegally who was wanted for domestic assault. Protesters have been trying to disrupt such operations amid an ongoing federal immigration crackdown, and a group of people in the area sounded high-pitched whistles, honked horns and yelled out at the officers.

Among them was Pretti. At one point, video shows Pretti standing in the street and holding up his phone with his right hand; his left hand appears empty. 

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Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana Saturday called for a "full" state and federal investigation into Saturday's shooting.

In a social media post, Cassidy described the situation in Minneapolis as "incredibly disturbing" and said that the "credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake."

"We can trust the American people with the truth," Cassidy said.

His comments come after the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said it was denied access to Saturday's shooting scene by federal investigators. Earlier this month, state authorities also said they were also denied access to evidence in the Jan. 7 deadly shooting in Minneapolis of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.  

President Trump last week endorsed Republican Rep. Julia Letlow to challenge Cassidy for his seat in the state's GOP primary this year. Immediately after receiving the endorsement, she entered the race.

Cassidy was one of seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict Mr. Trump in his impeachment trial over the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

An online fundraiser set up to to help members of Alex Pretti's family had already raised more than $230,000 late Saturday night.

The effort had accepted more than 6500 donations in just the first few hours that it was online.

"This fundraiser is intended to support the loved ones he leaves behind with immediate and ongoing needs. Because details are still unfolding, and to ensure the money goes to the right person, funds will not be distributed until we can verify next-of-kin and identify the appropriate family representative to manage anything raised," organizers wrote on the popular crowd fundraising site, GoFundMe. 

A witness who says he was at the scene of a deadly shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis directly contradicts accounts given by federal officials who described the deadly shooting.

In a sworn declaration submitted in federal court, a Minneapolis resident described as "a children's entertainer who specializes in face painting," said they started observing federal immigration agents after hearing whistles on their way to work on Saturday morning.

The witness said the man who was shot dead, Alex Pretti, was directing traffic before the altercation with the agents.

The witness also said in the sworn statement, "The agents pulled the man on the ground. I didn't see him touch any of them," they said in the statement. "It didn't look like he was trying to resist, just trying to help (a) woman get up ... They just threw him to the ground."

In another part of the statement, the witness said, "The man did not approach the agents with a gun. He approached them with a camera."

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The Hennepin County Attorney's Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension late Saturday filed a lawsuit, claiming it was needed to prevent "destruction of evidence" in the shooting death of Alex Pretti.

The lawsuit is now paired with a court motion, asking a judge to issue a temporary restraining order to stop federal agents from continuing their surge in the Twin Cities area. The new lawsuit is designed to try to ensure that the federal government preserves evidence in the case.

"I will not rest, my team will not rest, until we have done everything in our power, everything within our authority, to achieve transparency and accountability," Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Saturday that Democrats will not put up the necessary votes to advance a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security in the wake of immigration agents shooting and killing a man in Minneapolis on Saturday.

"What's happening in Minnesota is appalling —and unacceptable in any American city. Democrats sought common sense reforms in the Department of Homeland Security spending bill, but because of Republicans' refusal to stand up to President Trump, the DHS bill is woefully inadequate to rein in the abuses of ICE," Schumer said in a statement. "I will vote no. Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included."

The House on Thursday passed a funding package, along with a separate measure to fund DHS, sending the bills to the Senate for approval, along with two other funding measures that were passed the House last week. 

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After federal officers shot and killed a second Minneapolis resident in a span of weeks amid their immigration operation, local business owners and community members joined a crowd of protesters in sub-zero temperatures.  

"They were murdered in the street. How are you supposed to respond?" said Jeff Cowmeadow, the owner of The Prodigal Public House, a pub located steps from the shooting. "A neighbor was murdered. One of our regular pub attenders was right there."

Cowmeadow told CBS Minnesota that residents want federal agents out of their state, saying the situation is "total chaos."

"I just think that we need to stand together," Cowmeadow said. "We need to tell the truth about what we see, and not let others tell us about what we see."  

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The community gathered on Saturday night on Summit Avenue and Lexington Parkway for a vigil to honor Alex Pretti. 

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Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti, released the following statement:

"We are heartbroken but also very angry.

Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the hero term lightly. However his last thought and act was to protect a woman.

The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.

Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you."

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Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement that a "federal investigation is ongoing."

Like other Trump administration officials, he blamed Democratic leaders for "this avoidable tragedy," claiming they "have resisted federal law enforcement and created this escalation."

"Federal officers are tasked with the difficult jobs of removing criminal illegal aliens from American communities," he said. Blanche added that the Justice Department "will continue to hold those breaking federal law accountable, including those who harass and violently attack law enforcement in the name of protest."

Minneapolis rapper Nur-D was violently detained by federal agents during protests at the scene of Saturday's shooting.

Nur-D posted on Instagram Saturday evening that he is safe and has been reunited with his wife. He also alleged ICE stole his cell phone while he was in their custody.

"As long as ICE can openly murder people in the streets with impunity, there is no justice," Nur-D said.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris said in a social media post that she is "enraged and heartbroken" over the shooting of Alex Pretti.

Alex Jeffrey Pretti was an ICU nurse at a VA hospital. His life, through his profession, was dedicated to serving his community and our country," Harris said. "As so many have now seen on video, his final act before he was killed by federal agents was doing everything in his power to protect his community."

The 2020 Democratic presidential candidate applauded Pretti and the tens of thousands of Minnesotans she says "have boldly defended their neighbors against the murderous occupation of an American city by the federal government."

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth responded to a federal immigration enforcement officer shooting of Alex Pretti Saturday afternoon by saying, "Thank God for the patriots of @ICEgov — we have your back 100%. You are SAVING the country."

Hegseth, who was born in Minneapolis, added, "Shame on the leadership of Minnesota — and the lunatics in the street" before concluding: "ICE > MN."

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says the city is filing a declaration on Monday to encourage a judge to rule on a temporary restraining order to put a stop to Operation Metro Surge.

"The relief we're asking for is stopping this Operation Metro Surge in the immediacy. It's preventing this massive influx of agents that is making it very difficult for us to do our jobs in the city as well as we need to do them, and we need to do regular day law enforcement as well," Frey said.

When asked if he expects the Trump administration to abide by a court order, Frey said it is his expectation that they will.

"These are the underpinnings of our democracy, of our republic and of this constitution. The answer better be yes. Whether you're a Democrat or you're a Republican, you abide by those court orders," Frey said. "The answer has to be yes if you are a patriot for this country. So yes, my expectation is that they will abide by a court order because there is not an alternative."

In a news briefing Saturday from Washington, D.C., Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the man who was killed, identified as Alex Pretti, approached U.S. Border Patrol officers while they were conducting "targeted" immigration enforcement operations, with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun.

Noem said officers attempted to disarm him, but he "reacted violently," and "fearing for his life and the lives of his fellow officers around him, an agent fired defensive shots."

The man had two magazines with ammo and was carrying no identification, Noem said.  

He died at the scene, Noem said. 

"This individual showed up to impede a law enforcement operation and assaulted our officers," Noem later said. "They responded according to their training and took action to defend the officer's life and those of the public around him. I don't know of any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign." 

A Homeland Security Investigations officer's finger "was bitten off" by a protester who showed up at the scene following the shooting of Alex Pretti, Homeland Security Secretary Noem said at a news conference Saturday evening.

Noem alleged hundreds of protesters obstructed and assaulted law enforcement officers on Saturday after the deadly shooting.

"We saw objects being thrown at them, including ice and other objects, and a rampant assault began and even an HSI officer agent's finger was bitten off," she said, providing no further details.

Attorney General Pam Bondi later said the person who allegedly bit an agent's finger off had been arrested.

"I have directed my federal prosecutors to file charges for this HEINOUS assault on our brave law enforcement officer," Bondi said on X. 

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara says, despite earlier chaos, demonstrations throughout the city are currently "peaceful" and that his officers "intend to keep it that way."

To maintain the peace, O'Hara announced the city has established a vehicle exclusionary zone in the area where the shooting occurred. Minneapolis police officers will maintain the zone alongside members of the Minnesota National Guard.

"The number one priority of our police officers is to protect life and maintain public safety for all people in our community," O'Hara said.

The police chief encouraged those who come out to protest to do so "lawfully" and "peacefully."

O'Hara also confirmed law enforcement deployed less-lethal and gas munitions at a protest near the site of the shooting earlier in the day.

"We do everything that we possibly can to de-escalate whenever possible," O'Hara said. "And the actions that were taken today were in response to a dangerous and escalating situation that already had multiple complications."

Alex Pretti was killed less than two miles away from Renee Good in south Minneapolis, and both were killed in the vicinity of where George Floyd was murdered in May 2020.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has submitted a formal request to Gov. Tim Walz for the Minnesota National Guard to help reinforce local law enforcement in the aftermath of a second fatal shooting by federal immigration enforcement forces in the span of weeks.

"Local law enforcement resources are stretched thin because of the disruption to public safety caused by thousands of federal immigration agents in neighborhoods," the release said. "Minnesota Guard members will wear neon reflective vests to help distinguish them from other agencies in similar uniforms and will always remain in close contact and proximity to Minneapolis Police officers whom they are supporting.

"To be clear, the Minnesota Guard deployment comes at the request of local officials," the release continues. "The federal government has no involvement in their activities. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office has also announced it is requesting the Minnesota Guard to activate to the B.H. Whipple Federal Building where it needs additional officers to help fill shifts."

A neighbor of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, the man shot and killed by a federal agent, says he "would always be willing to help others."

"I didn't know Alex super well, but he was a great guy and neighbor," she said. "He loved his car and took very good care of it. He used to have a dog who passed around a year or two ago, I think. I remember how sweet it was that, as his dog was more elderly, less mobile, he'd be willing to carry him down to the yard to get some fresh air and to enjoy the outdoors. His dog would lay down and Alex would sit with him and pet him for long periods of time. He was very caring, you could tell. We are all heartbroken and are praying for his family and friends and for justice for him."

The Minnesota Parks and Recreation Board announced that several events scheduled for Saturday evening have been canceled.

All ice rink warming houses will close at 5 p.m. and permitted events after 5 p.m. will be rescheduled. Activities at Parade Ice Garden, Northeast Ice Arena and the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships will continue.

The board says it made the decision to prioritize the safety of staff and community members.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says he will be in court on Monday, arguing to end what he calls an "illegal and unconstitutional occupation" of the state by federal agents.

"I share the intense grief and anger of so many that another Minnesotan — Alex Pretti, 37 years old, an ICU nurse who served veterans — was fatally shot during the Trump Administration's Operation Metro Surge," Ellison said. "This must stop."

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on Saturday afternoon said that, despite a judge's signed warrant, the agency has been denied access to the shooting scene by federal investigators.

BCA Superintendent Drew Evans updated on their efforts Saturday, saying Department of Homeland Security officers turned down the BCA.

"When our team arrived, they were blocked by federal agents," Evans said.

The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus has issued the following statement on the fatal shooting of a man who federal officials say was carrying a firearm:

"We are deeply concerned by this morning's reports that a federal law enforcement operation in Minneapolis resulted in the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal agents. According to local officials, the man was legally armed, a firearm was recovered at the scene, and he is believed to have been a lawful gun owner and permit to carry holder.

"Many critical facts remain unknown.

"We do not yet have an independent account of what initiated the encounter or what triggered the use of deadly force. Despite widespread speculation regarding intent, there has been no evidence produced indicating an intent to harm the officers. We are calling for a full and transparent investigation by both state and federal authorities.

"Every peaceable Minnesotan has the right to keep and bear arms—including while attending protests, acting as observers, or exercising their First Amendment rights. These rights do not disappear when someone is lawfully armed, and they must be respected and protected at all times."

Family members say the man killed by a federal officer in Minneapolis on Saturday was an intensive care nurse at the Veterans Administration who cared deeply about people and was upset by President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown in his city.

Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, was an avid outdoorsman who loved getting in adventures with Joule, his beloved Catahoula Leopard dog who also recently died. He had participated in protests following the killing of Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Law Enforcement officer earlier this month.

"He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset," said Michael Pretti, Alex's father. "He felt that doing the protesting was a way to express that, you know, his care for others."

Pretti was a U.S. citizen, born in Illinois. Like Good, court records showed he had no criminal record and his family said he had never had any interactions with law enforcement beyond a couple of traffic tickets.

The NBA has postponed a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors that was scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis.

"The decision was made to prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community," the league said.

The two teams will now play on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. CT at Target Center.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he had spoken to the White House twice on Saturday, to first request that federal agents leave the state, and to then say that state officials will investigate the deadly Border Patrol shooting in South Minneapolis.

"Minnesota's justice system will have the last word on this. It must have the last word on this," Walz said. "As I told the White House in no uncertain terms, the federal government cannot be trusted to lead this investigation. The state will handle it, period."

Walz also encouraged Minnesotans to protest peacefully, saying that residents cannot meet "violence with violence."

"Despite the horrific acts by this federal government, Minnesota is standing up to this rule of law," he said.

Walz added that Republicans "will not win another election for as long as they live" unless they "stand up for what's right" and "stand up for human decency."

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office has asked for assistance from the Minnesota National Guard "due to the potential for continuing and growing conflict" after the second killing by a federal agent in Minneapolis since the start of the year.

Sheriff Dawanna Witt has requested National Guard members to aid her deputies at the Whipple Federal Building, the local headquarters for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Protests have been a nigh constant sight outside the building since the killing of Renee Good on Jan. 7.

"Their job will be to assist the Sheriff's Office in protecting life, preserving property, and helping to ensure the safety of all community members," the sheriff's office said in a statement.  

The guard has been on standby at the direction of Gov. Tim Walz since Good's death.

"We respect and protect everyone's rights to voice concerns and stand up for what they believe in, but we urge all actions to remain peaceful and lawful," the sheriff's office said. "Our collective priority remains protecting our neighborhoods and keeping people safe."

President Trump took to Truth Social early Saturday afternoon after federal agents fatally shot a man in Minneapolis. 

In his post, Trump shared a picture of the man's gun, saying it was "ready to go." 

He also alleged local police weren't protecting ICE officers and questioned if Mayor Jacob Frey and Gov. Tim Walz "called them off."

He went on to accuse Frey and Walz of inciting an insurrection "with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric." 

Trump added that if the "12,000 Illegal Alien Criminals" were not arrested and taken out of the state, "you would see something far worse than you are witnessing today!"

The federal officer who shot and killed a man in Minneapolis Saturday was "highly trained and has been serving as a Border Patrol agent for eight years," the agency's Commander at Large Greg Bovino said.

Bovino did not publicly identify the officer at an afternoon news conference. He repeated a Department of Homeland Security statement issued earlier in the day before refusing to answer a WCCO question about video evidence that contradicts the DHS narrative.

Homeland Security alleged the man who was killed approached agents with a handgun, but multiple videos taken before the shooting show him without a weapon in hand before agents tackled him to the ground.

Bovino said the "situation is evolving and more information is forthcoming." He also said federal agents "need state and local law enforcement to help us coordinate to get violent criminals off the street."

Republican House Majority Whip Tom Emmer said he's "grateful no Border Patrol officers were harmed" after federal agents shot and killed a man in south Minneapolis Saturday morning.

Emmer's statement made no mention of the man killed, whom city officials have identified as a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident.

"The governor and local leaders' rhetoric has empowered criminals and put federal law enforcement's lives at risk. It's dangerous and has made the situation in Minneapolis much worse," Emmer said."Unlike my Democrat colleagues, I'm going to let law enforcement conduct their investigation and not jump to asinine conclusions. We are grateful no Border Patrol officers were harmed."  

Watch live aerial footage of protests after federal agents shot and killed another Minneapolis resident during a federal immigration crackdown. 

Minneapolis city officials identified the man killed by federal agents as a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident and U.S. citizen.

Police Chief Brian O'Hara said local authorities have been given "very limited" information about what led to the shooting. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI are at the scene investigating, O'Hara said.

Mayor Jacob Frey said he has seen the video of agents "pummeling one of our constituents and shooting him to death."

"How many more residents, how many more Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?" Frey said.

Frey called on President Trump to pull federal agents out of the city.

"To President Trump: This is a moment to act like a leader," Frey said. "Put Minneapolis, put America first in this moment. Let's achieve peace. Let's end this operation, and I'm telling you, our city will come back, safety will be restored."

Frey and O'Hara also asked the public to avoid the area of the shooting and asked anyone at the scene protesting to leave. 

"We understand your frustrations," O'Hara said. "This is not sustainable."

O'Hara said the man killed was a "lawful gun owner with a permit to carry." The Department of Homeland Security alleged the man approached officers with a gun.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says he's communicated with the White House that the "state must lead the investigation."

"Let state investigators secure justice," Walz said. "As we process the scene, stay peaceful and give them space. The State has the personnel to keep people safe - federal agents must not obstruct our ability to do so."

Walz's office says he will address the shooting in a news conference at 1:30 p.m. You can watch that on CBS News Minnesota and WCCO's Youtube page. 

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin has released more information Saturday morning, saying the person "violently resisted" before federal agents fired fatal shots. 

McLaughlin says just after 9 a.m. DHS agents were conducting a "targeted operation in Minneapolis against an illegal alien" who she says was wanted for violent assault. That's when a person approached Border Patrol officers with a "9 mm semi-automatic handgun."

"The officers attempted to disarm the suspect but the armed suspect violently resisted. More details on the armed struggle are forthcoming," McLaughlin said. "Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots. Medics on scene immediately delivered medical aid to the subject but was pronounced dead at the scene."

McLaughlin added that the person had two magazines and no ID and that it "looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement."

She says more information will be provided later. 

Minneapolis officials later said the man was a "lawful gun owner with a permit to carry." The police chief says DHS has given the city very limited information about what led to the shooting. 

Video of the shooting, which WCCO has reviewed, shows several federal agents surrounding a person on the ground. It appears one of the agents hits the person with a gun several times before several gunshots are heard. 

Joy, a 55-year-old woman from Edina, Minnesota, said she had driven up to the scene where federal agents shot and killed a man Saturday morning with her husband after watching footage of the protests on TV.

Her husband was in the crowd, protesting, while she was comforting a woman who was on the verge of a panic attack.

"I just said to her, I said: 'We got this.' This is when we show our resolve as a city because we're better than this. We are under attack by this administration right now and this is not OK. It's just not," she told WCCO's Frankie McLister. 

"This is not OK for our city," she said, adding that she'd lived in the Twin Cities area for a combined 21 years. "You know, I believe that the Twin Cities represents the best of America." 

The Minnesota State Patrol has declared an "unlawful assembly" in the vicinity of a fatal shooting in south Minneapolis, as crowds continue to gather.

A rally and a vigil is planned on East 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue South Saturday afternoon, not far from where federal agents shot and killed a person.

The vigil was originally scheduled for 1 p.m., but has since been postponed. 

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty released a statement on Saturday morning following the fatal shooting by federal agents. 

Moriarty says the county is working with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to "coordinate a state response."

"The scene must be secured by local law enforcement for the collection and preservation of evidence. We expect the federal government to allow the BCA to process the scene," Moriarty said. 

WCCO reporters Frankie McLister and Adam Duxter are on the scene along Nicollet Avenue in south Minneapolis and confirm that chemical irritant has been deployed as outraged crowds gather on the scene, some carrying signs and at least one other carrying an American flag hung upside down in the signal for extreme distress.

WCCO has reviewed apparent video of Saturday's shooting.

The video, which WCCO is working to verify, shows several federal agents scuffling with someone in the street, followed by the sound of several gunshots before the agents scatter.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Brian O'Hara plan to speak about Saturday's killing at a news conference.

A release from the city said the mayor is "demanding that ICE leave the city and state immediately."

The news conference is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. You can watch it live on CBS News Minnesota or the WCCO YouTube page.

Minnesota officials issued statements in the immediate aftermath of another apparent shooting by federal immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis Saturday morning.

Saturday's shooting comes one day after tens of thousands of people marched through downtown Minneapolis to protest ICE's presence in the city. 

Exact numbers are not known, but organizers expected 50,000 people to attend the march, which started near U.S. Bank Stadium and ended with a rally at Target Center.

A woman attending the protest told WCCO she's a teacher who was showing up for her students.

"I'm a high school teacher. They're scared. They are scared to wait at the bus. They are scared for their friends. Children of color are scared to be out on the streets and in their cars. They've been cornered. They've been detained. They've been questioned. Their families have been detained. They're scared for their lives. They're scared for their families," the woman said.

Organizers called for a general strike on Friday, as well, urging Minnesotans to abstain from school, work and shopping to demonstrate against the federal presence in the state.