Federal authorities said a Border Patrol agent shot and killed 37-year-old Minneapolis resident Alex J. Pretti on Saturday, after he allegedly confronted officers during a Department of Homeland Security operation in south Minneapolis.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) identified Pretti, a U.S. citizen and Minneapolis resident, as one of its members.
Officials said Pretti worked as an ICU nurse at a VA hospital, and court records show he did not have a criminal history.
At a news conference, Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino said Department of Homeland Security (DHS) law enforcement officers were conducting an operation early Saturday targeting Jose Huerta-Chuma, an illegal immigrant with a criminal history including domestic assault to intentional conflict bodily harm, disorderly conduct and driving without a valid license.
During the operation, Pretti allegedly approached Border Patrol agents while armed with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and two magazines, according to DHS.
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“The agents attempted to disarm the individual, but he violently resisted, fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, a Border Patrol agent fired defensive shots,” Bovino said. “Medics on the scene immediately delivered medical aid to the subject, but the subject was pronounced dead at the scene.”
State officials said Pretti had a lawful Permit to Carry (PTC).
The officer involved in the shooting, according to Bovino, was “highly trained” and had been serving as a Border Patrol agent for eight years.
DHS is leading the investigation into the shooting, with assistance from the FBI.
The Border Patrol chief called on state and local law enforcement to “help us coordinate to get violent criminals off the street,” slamming Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara for omitting the fact that Pretti was armed when they held their news conference earlier on Saturday.
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“I want to reiterate what President Donald Trump, [DHS] Secretary Kristi Noem, myself, [ICE Executive Associate] Director Marcos Charles and so many others have said time and again, ‘If you obstruct a law enforcement officer or assault a law enforcement officer, you are in violation of the law and will be arrested,’” Bovino said.
Trump responded to the shooting on Truth Social, questioning why local police were not assisting during the confrontation.
“This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go–What is that all about?” the president wrote in part. “Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers? The Mayor and the Governor called them off? It is stated that many of these Police were not allowed to do their job, that ICE had to protect themselves—Not an easy thing to do!”
DHS said that following the incident, approximately 200 agitators arrived at the scene and began to “obstruct and assault law enforcement,” leading to the implementation of crowd control measures.
The Minneapolis Police Department asked for the public to remain calm in the wake of Saturday’s incident.
“We ask the public to remain calm and avoid the immediate area,” the Minneapolis Police Department wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital.
O’Hara said that there had been an emergency recall of all sworn personnel back to duty to handle the situation.
While MPD is leading the charge, the agency is receiving help from the Minnesota State Patrol, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and Ramsy County Sheriff’s Office, according to O’Hara.
Meanwhile, suburban towns have aided MPD in handling the influx of 911 calls.
O’Hara added that the fire department was working with police to “ensure that two small fires that were started in the area are safely extinguished.”
The Minnesota National Guard, which has been on standby “for several days,” confirmed additional soldiers are being called in to provide security at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, and assist local law enforcement agencies.
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office released a statement on X, saying that due to the “potential for continuing and growing conflict related to today’s federal agent-involved shooting,” Sheriff Dawanna Witt requested assistance from the Guard.
“The Minnesota National Guard’s role is to work in support of local law enforcement and emergency responders, providing additional resources,” the sheriff’s office wrote in the statement. “Their presence is meant to help create a secure environment where all Minnesotans can exercise their rights safely, including the right to peacefully protest.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said on Saturday the state will be billing the federal government for the cost of the National Guard “because they are incurring the costs that are falling on us by their reckless actions.”
During Saturday’s news conference, Frey condemned the shooting and gave an impassioned plea for the federal enforcement operation to end.
“I just saw a video of more than six masked 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? How many more lives need to be lost before this administration realizes that a political and partisan narrative is not as important as American values? How many times must local and national leaders must plead with you, Donald Trump, to end this operation and recognize that this is not creating safety in our city,” Frey said.
He called on the administration and those involved in the operation to “reflect” before calling out Trump.
“President Trump, this is a moment to act like a leader. 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. We’re asking for you to take action now to remove these federal agents,” Frey said.
Walz also condemned the shooting, noting he spoke twice with the White House Saturday morning.
“Minnesota has had it. This is sickening,” Walz wrote on X. “The president must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.”
He later said that he told the White House that Minnesota must lead the investigation into the shooting and implored them to “let state investigators secure justice. 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 wrote on X.
Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, both Democrats representing Minnesota, also spoke out following the shooting. Smith called the incident “catastrophic” and called on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to “leave now so MPD can secure the scene and do their jobs.”
The Border Patrol Union responded to the incident, saying that agents are “trained extremely well to protect themselves.”
“We have pleaded with and warned the media and the politicians that their irresponsible, hate-filled and false rhetoric is going to get people unnecessarily hurt, or worse, killed when they portray our agents and officers as the aggressors. They have encouraged these reckless confrontations and attacks on our agents and officers who are performing their lawful duties and enforcing the laws that Congress has put on the books,” the union wrote in a statement on X.
Tensions between federal immigration enforcement and agitators in Minnesota have been high since the fatal Jan. 7 shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent. Her death sparked a wave of protests nationwide and raised questions about the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Walz and Frey, as well as other Minnesota officials, have been highly critical of how federal immigration forces have handled the operation. Following the shooting of Good, Frey told ICE to “get the f— out of Minneapolis.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
