National Guard Mobilised in Minnesota Following Fatal ICE Shooting of Protester
The state of Minnesota has activated its National Guard following a deadly incident in Minneapolis where a federal immigration agent shot and killed a protester. The fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti has ignited significant unrest, prompting a major security response.
Mayor Requests Military Support After Morning Violence
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey formally requested National Guard troops to bolster local police forces after the violent altercation on Saturday morning. The incident occurred shortly after 9am local time near Nicollet Avenue, where Pretti, identified as an intensive care nurse, was participating in a demonstration.
According to official reports, the Minnesota National Guard was deployed to multiple locations including the immediate shooting site and a nearby federal building where tense standoffs developed between officers and demonstrators throughout the day.
Conflicting Narratives Emerge About Fatal Encounter
Police Chief Brian O'Hara confirmed that investigators have limited information about the events leading to the shooting but noted that Pretti was believed to be a lawful gun owner with a valid permit to carry.
Contrasting sharply with police statements, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin asserted that federal officers fired defensive shots after a man with a handgun approached them and violently resisted attempts to disarm him.
However, witness videos circulating from the scene appear to show Pretti holding a mobile phone rather than a visible weapon at the moment he was shot, creating significant discrepancies between official accounts and visual evidence.
Family's Anguish and Political Fallout Intensify
Pretti's family released an emotional statement on Saturday evening expressing both heartbreak and fury over their son's death. They described him as a kindhearted soul dedicated to making a difference through his nursing work and vehemently disputed official characterizations of the incident.
The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting, the family statement declared. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect a woman ICE just pushed down.
The shooting occurred just over a mile from where another fatal ICE encounter took place earlier this month, when 37-year-old mother Renee Good was killed on January 7th, suggesting a pattern of escalating tensions in the area.
Federal Officials Defend Actions Amid Growing Controversy
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem addressed reporters at a news conference, stating that Pretti attempted to impede a law enforcement operation but provided no specific details about whether he actually drew or brandished a weapon at officers.
Federal authorities revealed that the ICE agent involved in the shooting is an eight-year Border Patrol veteran, though they have not released the officer's identity pending further investigation.
Political Reactions Fuel National Debate
The incident quickly escalated into a political confrontation when former President Donald Trump took to social media to criticise both Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Frey. Trump posted an image of the firearm that ICE officials claimed was recovered from the scene alongside pointed questions about local law enforcement's response.
What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren't they allowed to protect ICE Officers? Trump wrote before accusing the governor and mayor of inciting Insurrection with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric.
The deployment of National Guard troops represents a significant escalation in security measures as Minneapolis faces renewed protests and investigations into yet another fatal encounter involving federal immigration authorities.
