The Minneapolis community has been plunged into grief and anger following the fatal shooting of a local man by federal immigration agents over the weekend. Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old US citizen and intensive care nurse, was identified as the victim gunned down during an enforcement operation on Saturday morning.
Neighbour Reveals ICE Watch Group Connection
Jeanne Massey, a community outreach worker who lives just one block away from Pretti, has revealed that the victim was an active participant in their local "Signal ICE" watch group. This neighbourhood initiative, comprising dozens of volunteers across Minneapolis's Kingfield area, uses encrypted messaging to rapidly coordinate responses when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are spotted in the vicinity.
"He was part of our neighbourhood's Signal ICE group chat," Massey confirmed, describing how the network enables volunteers to patrol streets, alert residents, and document encounters whenever federal agents appear. While Massey's role involves organising these rapid response efforts, the specific function Pretti performed within the watch group remains unclear.
Community Response and Eyewitness Account
Massey was among numerous Minneapolis residents who rushed to the scene where Pretti was fatally shot. She provided a harrowing eyewitness account of ICE officers charging into the gathering crowd and deploying tear gas against onlookers in the aftermath of the shooting.
"Let me be clear: we are horrified, we are furious, and we are not going to pretend this is anything but what it is - another senseless act of violence carried out by federal agents in our city," Massey declared, speaking on behalf of her neighbours. "This is the third time in just weeks that someone has been shot during these so-called enforcement operations."
Protest Momentum Overshadowed by Violence
The devastating events risk eclipsing a remarkable show of community unity that occurred just one day earlier. On Friday, thousands of Minneapolis residents marched through the city's streets in a massive demonstration that Massey described as "not just for our immigrant neighbors but for everyone who deserves to live without fear."
"That massive show of solidarity should have sent a message - but instead, we wake up to another scene of bloodshed," Massey stated, highlighting the bitter contrast between Friday's peaceful protest and Saturday's violent confrontation.
Growing Anger and Calls for Accountability
The shooting has intensified existing tensions between Minneapolis residents and federal immigration authorities. Massey expressed the community's mounting frustration with what they perceive as unaccountable operations conducted with lethal force.
"People here are terrified, but we are also angry - angry that federal agents continue to operate with impunity, with lethal force, with no accountability," she explained. "Our city is under siege. No one here feels safe, and that is unacceptable."
Despite the fear gripping Minneapolis following the incident, community members have vowed to maintain their resistance. "We will not be quiet, we will not be intimidated, and we will not back down," Massey declared. "This resistance is not just growing - it's enraged and resolute. They need to stop this operation now and get these agents out of Minnesota."
Victim Remembered as Dedicated Healthcare Professional
Beyond his community activism, Alex Pretti worked as a nurse providing critical care to seriously ill military veterans. His dual role as both healthcare professional and neighbourhood watch volunteer underscores the broad impact of his loss on multiple segments of the Minneapolis community.
The incident represents another tragic chapter in the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement operations in American cities, with Minneapolis residents now demanding immediate changes to how federal agents conduct their activities in residential neighbourhoods.
