NBA legend Charles Barkley has made a desperate public appeal for intervention after the fatal shooting of intensive care nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community and prompted the postponement of a major sporting event, highlighting growing tensions in the city.
Fatal Confrontation Sparks Outrage
The tragic event occurred on Saturday when 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a registered nurse and US citizen, was shot dead following a struggle with federal agents. According to official statements from the Department of Homeland Security, agents were in the area attempting to apprehend Jose Huerta-Chuma, an Ecuadorian national wanted for violent assault, when they were approached by Pretti.
Federal authorities claim Pretti was armed with a nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun and carrying two magazines at the time of the encounter. DHS officials stated that officers attempted to disarm Pretti but that he 'violently resisted' before a Border Patrol agent, described as an eight-year veteran, fired the fatal shot. Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene.
Community Response and NBA Impact
The shooting occurred less than two miles from Target Center, the downtown arena where the Minnesota Timberwolves play. Just hours after the incident, the NBA game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors was postponed to 'prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community'.
When the 'Inside The NBA' crew, featuring Barkley alongside Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith, returned from a commercial break, host Johnson had to explain the postponement to viewers. After reading the NBA's official statement, Johnson asked Barkley for his thoughts on the unfolding situation in Minneapolis.
Barkley responded emotionally: 'It's just sad, man. It's scary. It's sad. I don't know how... It's going to end bad – it's already ended badly twice. Somebody has got to step up and be adults. Two people have died for no reason, and it's just sad.' His comments referenced not only Pretti's death but also the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good just two weeks earlier, who was killed in her car as she drove away from officers following a confrontation.
Contradictory Accounts and Tributes
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara provided contrasting information about Pretti's background, stating he had no serious criminal history – with records showing only minor parking violations – and was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit. This differs from the federal narrative about the circumstances of the confrontation.
Several bystander videos emerged showing agents wrestling with Pretti and taking him to the ground moments before the shooting. While Pretti is seen with a phone in his hand, none of the footage appears to show him with a visible weapon at the moment of the confrontation.
Dr. Dimitri Drekonja, chief of the Infectious Diseases Section at the Minneapolis VA and a professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota, paid tribute to his former colleague on Facebook. 'Alex Pretti was a colleague at the VA,' Drekonja wrote. 'We hired him to recruit for our trial. He became an ICU nurse. I loved working with him. He was a good, kind person who lived to help – and these f***ers executed him.'
Political Reactions and Ongoing Developments
Former President Donald Trump weighed in on social media, sharing images of the gun recovered by immigration officials and lashing out at Minnesota's Democratic governor and Minneapolis mayor. 'What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren't they allowed to protect ICE Officers?' Trump wrote, adding that the officials were 'inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric.'
Meanwhile, the NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and Florida Panthers in Saint Paul proceeded as scheduled on Saturday night, creating a stark contrast with the NBA's decision to postpone their Minneapolis event. The Timberwolves-Warriors game has been rescheduled for Sunday as investigations into the shooting continue.
The incident has raised serious questions about law enforcement procedures, community safety, and the appropriate use of force, with Barkley's emotional plea reflecting broader concerns about recent violence in Minneapolis.
