US Protests Erupt After Federal Agents Fatally Shoot Minneapolis Nurse Alex Pretti
In a tragic incident that has ignited nationwide outrage, US federal law enforcement officers fatally shot an American citizen in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday. This marks the second such killing by federal agents in less than three weeks, sparking major protests in cities across the country.
Contradictory Evidence Emerges in Fatal Shooting
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old registered nurse living in Minneapolis, was shot dead after being sprayed with a chemical agent and wrestled to the ground by federal agents. The altercation occurred when he appeared to come to the aid of a person being shoved to the ground by an officer.
Video evidence from the scene has shown that Pretti was holding a phone, not a gun, when he was tackled and shot. This directly contradicts claims from senior Trump administration officials, who alleged that he threatened to massacre law enforcement. While Pretti was legally licensed to have a gun, it remains unclear whether he had one on his person at the time, and the videos do not show him ever holding a firearm.
Major Protests Spread Across US Cities
Thousands of protesters have gathered in cities including Minneapolis, New York City, San Francisco, Boston, and Providence, Rhode Island. Braving extreme cold temperatures, they shouted slogans such as Say it once, say it twice, we will not put up with ICE!
In New York, city council member Chi Ossé addressed a crowd in freezing conditions, calling for the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He stated, We need Nuremberg trials for the people of ICE, for the people who are committing crimes against humanity here in our country. I refuse to call them law enforcement. They are agents of chaos. They are destroying the fabric of our country.
Family and Friends Remember a Caring Nurse
Michael Pretti, Alex's father, described his son as someone who cared about people deeply and was very upset with the situation involving ICE in the US. He noted that his son believed protesting was a way to express his care for others.
Dimitri Drekonja, chief of infectious diseases at the VA hospital and a professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota, who worked with Pretti, said, He wanted to help people. He was a super nice, super helpful guy – looked after his patients. I'm just stunned.
Political Reactions and Condemnations
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the shooting, asking in a press conference, How many more Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end? Meanwhile, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer vowed to block a funding package if it includes money for the Department of Homeland Security, citing inadequate reforms to rein in ICE abuses.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed the city's turmoil, stating, You ask us for peace, and we give it, and we get shot in the face on the streets coming out of a donut shop. This sentiment was echoed by protesters, with one 70-year-old man yelling in anger as clouds of chemicals hung in the sub-zero air.
Other Key Developments from the Day
In related news, President Trump has opted to skip next month's Super Bowl in northern California, citing the distance, amid backlash over the NFL's entertainment lineup. He also walked back comments about UK soldiers in Afghanistan, praising them after earlier false claims.
Additionally, a powerful winter storm swept across much of the US, affecting over 140 million Americans with heavy snow, sleet, and power outages.
