ICE Guns Down American Citizen in Minneapolis

Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis resident, is seen confronting federal agents during an early-morning immigration enforcement operation on Saturday, moments before he was fatally shot by an agent.

By ATN News Team

Minneapolis, MN: Federal immigration agents fatally shot a 37-year-old U.S. citizen early Saturday during an enforcement operation in south Minneapolis, triggering protests, political backlash and renewed scrutiny of the Trump administration’s immigration tactics in major cities.

The man, identified by authorities as Alexander “Alex” Jeffrey Pretti, was shot multiple times during an encounter with federal agents near West 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Federal officials said agents were conducting a targeted operation when Pretti approached them with a handgun and refused commands to drop the weapon. An agent then opened fire, officials said, describing the shooting as an act of self-defense.

That account has been disputed by witnesses and family members. Video clips circulating on social media show a chaotic scene in which several agents wrestle a man to the ground before shots are fired. Some bystanders said Pretti did not appear to pose a threat and claimed he was holding a phone rather than a weapon at key moments.

Pretti was confirmed to be a U.S. citizen and a licensed gun owner. Friends and relatives described him as a dedicated nurse who worked with veterans and had no serious criminal history.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the killing “a devastating and unacceptable loss of life” and said the state would push for a full and transparent investigation. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey echoed that call, criticizing the presence and conduct of federal agents in the city and urging calm while acknowledging that community trust had been badly shaken.

Tensions escalated further when state officials said federal agents initially restricted access to the scene, delaying local investigators from conducting their own examination. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said that lack of immediate cooperation raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability.

By Saturday evening, hundreds of demonstrators gathered near the site of the shooting, chanting for justice and demanding an end to aggressive federal enforcement operations. Some protests grew heated, prompting additional police deployment. The Minnesota National Guard was placed on standby to assist local authorities if unrest spreads.

The Department of Homeland Security defended the agents involved, saying the operation was lawful and that officers faced a dangerous situation. A spokesperson described the death as tragic but said the agency stood by its preliminary assessment that the use of force was justified.

Civil rights groups and immigration advocates rejected that explanation, calling for an independent investigation and broader oversight of federal law enforcement operations. Several Democratic lawmakers said they would seek congressional hearings, while some Republicans defended the agents and warned against what they called premature judgments.

The shooting comes amid an intensified federal immigration enforcement push in several U.S. cities, including Minneapolis, a strategy that has already generated legal challenges and growing friction between local and federal authorities.

As investigations begin, residents are left grappling with another high-profile death involving law enforcement and an increasingly polarized debate over public safety, federal power and civil liberties.