Minneapolis.- Federal agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) killed a man identified as Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis last Saturday, January 24. This marks the second fatal shooting of a civilian in the city during January.
This occurred less than three weeks after the death of Renee Good, a woman shot dead in her car by an ICE agent during a raid against undocumented immigrants.
Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, worked for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and took part in protests following Renee Good’s murder on January 7 at the hands of an ICE agent.
His father, Michel Pretti, explained that Alex “cared deeply about people and was very upset about what was happening in Minneapolis and across the United States with ICE, like millions of other people.” He also believed that it was terrible, “you know, kidnapping kids, simply grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people and knew it was wrong, so he participated in the protests.”
Before going to protest, his parents advised him to be careful. “We had this conversation with him two weeks ago, about protesting, but not getting involved, not doing any foolishness, basically,” explained Michel Pretti.
The Department of Homeland Security said that Alex was shot after approaching Border Patrol agents with a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol. In videos of the shooting taken by bystanders and later posted on social media, Pretti is seen with a phone in his hand, but with no weapon visible.
His family confirmed that he owned a pistol and had a permit to carry it concealed in Minnesota.
The family had heard nothing from anyone at the federal law enforcement agency about their son’s death; it wasn’t until they contacted the Hennepin County medical examiner that they confirmed that the body matched their son’s name and description.
The city’s police chief, Brian O’Hara, stated that Pretti had a weapon permit and had not had incidents with law enforcement. “We have identified this person: a 37-year-old white man, resident of the city.”
For his part, President Donald Trump said that the incident is under investigation and his administration has toned down the narrative.
“We are conducting an investigation that I will oversee. I want a fair and honorable investigation,” Trump said.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is being heavily criticized for spreading misleading information in her statements following Pretti’s murder.
The arrival of Tom Homan, the border czar, to Minneapolis was announced, while it has been said that Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino has already left the city, and it is speculated that he will return to an administrative post.
Meanwhile, protests intensify and calls for ICE to leave Minneapolis are growing.
