Armed Minneapolis man dead after confrontation with federal agents, DHS says

"This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement," DHS said.

By
Hayley Feland and Luke Sprinkel
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Left: Screenshot from video showing confrontation leading up to the shooting; Right: Photo of gun recovered from the scene released by DHS

A 37-year-old Minneapolis man is dead following a shooting involving federal agents that occurred on Saturday morning. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has said the man was armed with a semi-automatic firearm when a confrontation with Border Patrol officers took place.

“At 9:05 AM CT, as DHS law enforcement officers were conducting a targeted operation in Minneapolis against an illegal alien wanted for violent assault, an individual approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun,” DHS said in a statement.

“The officers attempted to disarm the suspect but the armed suspect violently resisted,” DHS said. “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.”

Additionally, DHS said the man had two magazines in his possession and no identification. The federal agency said more information about the confrontation would be forthcoming.

“This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement,” DHS added.

Video of the incident has gone viral, where an individual can be seen struggling with law enforcement officers. The altercation happened in South Minneapolis at the intersection of 26th and Nicollet Avenue.

Around noon, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara held a press briefing to speak about the incident. O’Hara confirmed the deceased individual was a 37-year-old white male who was a Minneapolis resident and is believed to be a citizen.

O’Hara said the man is believed to be “a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry.” Reports later identified the deceased individual as Alex Pretti.

Further, the police chief noted that an unlawful assembly was underway at the location of the shooting and he urged people to leave the area and remain peaceful. O’Hara also noted that the National Guard is on standby.

Frey, who has denounced the federal government’s large-scale immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota, called for ICE agents to leave the city and called on President Donald Trump to end Operation Metro Surge.

DHS also referred to the unlawful assembly in its statement, saying, “About 200 rioters arrived at the scene and began to obstruct and assault law enforcement on the scene, crowd control measures were deployed for the safety of the public and law enforcement.”

At a separate press briefing, U.S. Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino reiterated DHS’ prior statement and noted that the officer involved in the shooting was highly trained, had served as a border patrol agent for eight years, and had been trained as a range safety officer.

Discussing attacks on federal law enforcement, Bovino said “we will not allow violence against our law enforcement officers, and we need state and local law enforcement to help us coordinate to get violent criminals office the street.”

The national Border Patrol Union responded to the shooting, saying agents are trained to protect themselves and others.

“When a supposed ‘peaceful’ protester brings a weapon (such as a loaded handgun) and brandishes it, there are going to severe consequences and repercussions,” said the Border Patrol Union.

“We have pleaded with and warned the media and the politicians that their irresponsible, hate-filled and false rhetoric is going to get people unnecessarily hurt, or worse, killed when they portray our agents and officers as the aggressors,” the group said. “They have encouraged these reckless confrontations and attacks on our agents and officers who are performing their lawful duties and enforcing the laws that Congress has put on the books.”

At his own press conference, Gov. Tim Walz said Operation Metro Surge was not a federal immigration enforcement effort, but was instead “a campaign of organized brutality against the people of our state.”

A visibly angry Walz called the shooting “sickening” and said he told the White House that the federal government cannot be trusted to handle the investigation of the incident. Walz said he told the White House that Minnesota “would handle it. Period.”

During his press briefing, Walz demanded that the large-scale ICE presence leave the state, he claimed that federal agents have engaged in violence repeatedly, and he said the federal agents in Minnesota are “not law enforcement.”

The governor, who said protests must stay peaceful, called on “all Americans to see the decency that this state is exhibiting, and the horrific cruelty, unprofessional, absolute abomination that is passing for what these ICE agents are doing on our streets.”

Despite Walz’s attempts to demonize ICE agents, federal authorities have said their efforts are intended to apprehend “the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.” To that end, DHS has published lists of the individuals that have been arrested since Operation Metro Surge began in December.

According to DHS, the lists include criminal illegal aliens from a variety of countries who are convicted sex offenders, violent criminals, drug traffickers, and others.

 

Hayley Feland

Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.

Luke Sprinkel

Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.

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