MINNEAPOLIS — President Donald Trump says his administration is “reviewing everything” following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents on Saturday. The incident, the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal personnel in Minneapolis this month, has ignited nationwide protests and a constitutional standoff between state and federal officials.
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The circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death remain a point of intense dispute:
- The Federal Claim: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the agents, stating Pretti was “brandishing” a gun and resisted attempts to be disarmed. The administration has gone as far as labeling Pretti a “domestic terrorist.”
- The Local Rebuttal: Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara have countered these claims. Eyewitnesses and emerging video suggest Pretti was holding a cellphone, not a weapon. While Pretti was a legal gun owner with a valid permit, local records show he had no criminal history beyond minor traffic tickets.
- Evidence Obstruction: Chief O’Hara told the BBC that federal agents physically blocked state officers from the scene, preventing them from executing a search warrant.
Political Pressure Mounts
While President Trump told the Wall Street Journal he “doesn’t like any shooting,” he also criticized the presence of armed citizens at protests. However, the administration is facing a growing rebellion from within its own party:
- Republican Dissent: Senator Bill Cassidy called the shooting “incredibly disturbing,” and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt expressed concern over federal accountability. Even Trump ally Rep. James Comer suggested it might be time to withdraw agents to avoid further loss of life.
- Democratic Response: Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have condemned the “horrible scenes.” Meanwhile, Congressional Democrats are threatening a government shutdown by blocking DHS funding unless the operations are curtailed.
- Gun Rights Groups: In a rare break from the administration, the NRA joined calls for a full investigation, urging officials not to “demonize law-abiding citizens” who exercise their Second Amendment rights.
“An Inflection Point”
The shooting has paralyzed Minneapolis and sparked protests in major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. Business leaders from Minnesota giants—including Target, 3M, and Best Buy—have issued an urgent plea for de-escalation.
Governor Walz warned that the nation has reached a critical “inflection point,” stating:
“If we cannot all agree that the smearing of an American citizen… and asking us not to believe what we saw [is wrong], I don’t know what else to tell you.”
Background: Operation Metro Surge
The crackdown began in December following fraud convictions within the local Somali community. However, critics argue the scope has expanded dangerously, leading to the deaths of U.S. citizens like Pretti and Renee Good, who was killed earlier this month.
