Dean Cain Points Finger at Minnesota Democrats Over Fatal Protest Shooting
Conservative actor Dean Cain has placed blame for the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti during a Minneapolis protest squarely on top Minnesota Democrats, rather than on federal immigration enforcement agents. The former Superman star made his comments during an interview with TMZ Live on Monday, just two days after the violent incident that claimed the life of the 37-year-old intensive care nurse.
Questioning the Victim's Conduct and Official Rhetoric
Cain, who is 59 years old, suggested that Pretti was not simply participating as a peaceful protester when he was shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer on Saturday. 'He certainly wasn't there just being a peaceful protester,' Cain asserted, adding that 'it was a very bad idea to engage physically with federal law enforcement while armed.'
The actor questioned why Pretti was standing in the street and how many interactions he had with law enforcement prior to the fatal moment. 'He's standing between law enforcement officers and that woman, that's a mistake in its own right and doing it while armed is a bad, bad idea,' Cain stated.
Political Leaders Accused of Inflaming Tensions
Cain specifically targeted Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for what he described as politically-charged rhetoric that has escalated tensions in the state. 'The truth of this really falls on the shoulders of Governor Walz, Mayor Frey and all the city and state officials who are not cooperating with ICE and are calling them Gestapo and modern day Nazis,' he said.
The actor claimed this inflammatory language has emboldened protesters to confront federal agents. 'That rhetoric is emboldening people - and they're telling him to fight them in the streets and do these things - that is the root cause of the problem,' Cain argued.
Defending Federal Agents Under Pressure
Cain defended the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents, noting they have faced tremendous pressure and organized opposition. 'I don't know all of the events leading up to this moment, I do know that that law enforcement - certainly ICE and Border Patrol - have been under a tremendous amount of pressure and attacks,' he explained.
The actor, best known for his role in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman from 1993 to 1997, suggested the public doesn't fully understand the urgency officers face in such situations. 'Unless you're there in the moment with the agents, it's hard to understand,' said Cain, who was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan.
Official Responses and Political Fallout
The shooting has sparked a significant political confrontation between state and federal authorities. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino stated that Pretti had placed himself in harm's way by interfering with an active law enforcement operation while armed.
Governor Walz responded forcefully at a news conference, asking: 'Which side do you want to be on? The side of an all-powerful federal government that could kill, injure, menace and kidnap its citizens off the streets, or on the side of a nurse at the VA hospital who died bearing witness to such government.'
Several prominent Democrats have spoken out about the incident, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, who hailed Pretti as someone 'dedicated to serving his community and our country.' Senator Bernie Sanders called for all federal agents to be 'withdrawn immediately from Minneapolis and other cities,' while New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared 'ICE terrorizes our cities' and called for the agency's abolition.
Cain concluded that while the appropriateness of force used by agents would need to be determined through investigation, the primary responsibility lies with Democratic leaders whose rhetoric he believes has created a dangerous environment. 'I think we're gonna uncover that as it goes on,' he said regarding what he described as sophisticated organized opposition to federal immigration enforcement.
