A 37-year-old man was fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents early Saturday morning in South Minneapolis, authorities said. The man was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to Minneapolis police.
The shooting occurred near the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in the Whittier neighborhood and was captured on video by a bystander. Multiple news outlets identified the man who was killed as Alex Pretti.
Video authenticated by the Associated Press shows several Border Patrol agents restraining a man on the ground as protesters shout and blow whistles nearby. One agent appears to strike the man multiple times. Moments later, gunshots can be heard, and the man is seen lying motionless on the street as agents step back.
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said the man approached agents while carrying a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun. DHS said agents attempted to disarm him and that he resisted.
“Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots. Medics on scene immediately delivered medical aid to the subject but was pronounced dead at the scene,” DHS said. “The suspect also had 2 magazines and no ID — this looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said at a news conference that the man had no prior criminal history beyond traffic-related violations. O’Hara said investigators believe the man was a lawful gun owner and had a permit to carry.
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino said the agent who fired the shots has been with the agency for eight years.
Following the shooting, hundreds of protesters gathered near the scene. Demonstrators erected makeshift barricades, and some distributed earplugs, water, and hand warmers. One protester, Michael Wilson, positioned himself between demonstrators and police, describing the area as a “respect line.” He led chants set to the chorus of Aretha Franklin’s song “Respect.”
“Officers, I hope that you know a respect line has been made,” Wilson said through a bullhorn.
Minneapolis police later declared an unlawful assembly and issued multiple dispersal orders, according to O’Hara. The department requested assistance from the Minnesota State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies.
“We ask everyone to remain calm and to please do not destroy our own city,” O’Hara said.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he spoke with the White House following the shooting and criticized the federal operation underway in the state.
“Minnesota has had it. This is sickening,” Walz said. “The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.”
Walz also said the state should lead the investigation.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said it was asked by Minneapolis police to investigate the shooting but reported that its agents were blocked from accessing the scene by Department of Homeland Security personnel.
The shooting marks the third incident this year in which a federal agent has shot someone in Minneapolis. Approximately 3,000 federal agents were deployed to Minnesota as part of an immigration enforcement effort under the Trump administration.
Earlier this month, the state of Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul filed a federal lawsuit seeking to halt what officials described as an “unprecedented surge” of federal agents.
At Saturday’s news conference, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticized the operation.
“How many more residents? How many more Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?” Frey said. “How many more lives need to be lost before this administration realizes that a political and partisan narrative is not as important as American values?”
President Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, accusing local leaders of undermining federal law enforcement efforts.
“Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers? The Mayor and the Governor called them off?” Trump wrote. “It is stated that many of these Police were not allowed to do their job, that ICE had to protect themselves — Not an easy thing to do!”
