Federal brokers gunned down Alex Jeffrey Pretti on a snowy Minneapolis road Saturday morning. The 37-year-old registered nurse grew to become the second particular person killed by immigration officers in three weeks.
Pretti died after Border Patrol brokers wrestled him to the bottom throughout what officers referred to as an immigration enforcement operation. Video footage reveals a number of masked brokers in tactical gear pinning him down earlier than pictures rang out.
The licensed nurse had no critical legal historical past past parking tickets. State information present Pretti earned his nursing license in 2021 and labored as a junior scientist on the College of Minnesota Medical Faculty since 2012.
Tim Walz exploded at federal authorities throughout a Saturday press convention. The Minnesota governor referred to as the capturing “sickening” and demanded an finish to what he termed a “federal occupation” of Minneapolis.
“Cease calling them legislation enforcement,” Walz mentioned. “We now have enforcement who’re doing an unbelievable job. They need chaos.”
Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino claimed Pretti approached brokers with a gun and “needed to do most harm.” However Walz rejected that narrative after reviewing bystander footage.
“Thank God we now have video,” the governor mentioned. “It’s nonsense individuals. It’s nonsense and it’s lies.”
The Minnesota Star Tribune recognized Pretti by way of sources acquainted with the investigation. He lived in South Minneapolis and graduated from Inexperienced Bay Preble Excessive Faculty in 2006.
Open-source analysts started inspecting video footage that captured the deadly encounter. The disturbing clips present brokers beating and kicking Pretti earlier than the capturing. One knowledgeable advised footage may present an officer disarming Pretti earlier than different brokers opened fireplace. The sequence of occasions stays beneath investigation.
The president posted images of what he claimed was Pretti’s loaded pistol with two further magazines.
“It’s said that many of those Police weren’t allowed to do their job, that ICE needed to shield themselves — Not a straightforward factor to do! Why does Ilhan Omar have $34 Million {Dollars} in her account? And the place are the Tens of Billions of {Dollars} which have been stolen from the as soon as Nice State of Minnesota?,” Trump wrote about native police.
The president additionally referenced an area fraud scandal, claiming billions of {dollars} have been stolen from Minnesota. He linked the immigration raids to investigations into monetary crimes.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed Pretti was a lawful gun proprietor with a allow. The chief mentioned federal authorities offered no particulars in regards to the incident to native police.
The capturing occurred lower than three weeks after ICE agent Jonathan Ross killed Renee Good on January 7. Good, additionally 37, was shot thrice whereas unarmed outdoors a Minneapolis donut store.
Lots of of protesters gathered on the capturing scene on Nicollet Avenue. Federal brokers fired tear fuel on the crowd as tensions escalated all through the day. Mayor Jacob Frey demanded that Donald Trump take away federal personnel from the town. “What number of extra Individuals have to die?” Frey requested in the course of the press convention.
Walz introduced he was staging Nationwide Guard troops and demanded state investigators lead the probe into Pretti’s loss of life.
Federal authorities mentioned they’d conduct their very own investigation. Pretti’s loss of life marks the third capturing involving federal brokers in Minneapolis this month. The escalating violence has sparked nationwide consideration and protests.
Hundreds of Minnesotans participated in an financial strike on Friday to protest ICE operations. About 100 clergy members have been arrested in the course of the “Day of Reality & Freedom” demonstration.
Companies throughout the state closed in solidarity with protesters demanding ICE go away Minnesota. The Minneapolis Metropolis Council endorsed the final strike motion.
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