A disturbing video capturing a Minneapolis shooting by federal immigration agents has sparked outrage and drawn parallels to a recent similar incident. The victim, identified as 37-year-old Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti, was fatally shot during an enforcement operation in the city’s south side early Saturday morning. The actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have faced renewed scrutiny following this event.
The shooting occurred amidst ongoing protests triggered by the death of Renée Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE agent on January 7, leading to widespread demonstrations in the Twin Cities. Cellphone footage shared online shows federal officers engaging with the man before firing multiple shots. Witnesses, including a woman recording the incident, expressed shock and disbelief at the unfolding events.
Authorities reported that the man was armed with a handgun and ammunition and was shot multiple times after resisting attempts to disarm him. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that the victim was a US citizen.
The close proximity in time and location between the two shootings has intensified community anger. Good, a 37-year-old mother, was killed in a separate incident involving an ICE agent, prompting protests and legal challenges against the agency’s use of force. The latest shooting occurred just over a mile away from the previous incident, reigniting demands for federal intervention.
Protesters gathered at the scene, confronting law enforcement officers amid escalating tensions. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz denounced the shooting, labeling the federal operation as “sickening” and calling for a reduction in immigration agent presence in the city.
Civil liberties advocates have drawn attention to the alarming similarities between the two incidents, emphasizing the need for independent investigations and accountability in cases of federal officers killing civilians during enforcement actions. The US Department of Homeland Security has initiated a review of the incident, with further details to be disclosed in due course.
