Homeland Security agent fatally shoots protester in Minneapolis

Minnesota’s governor says federal agents shot another person in Minneapolis Saturday morning.

Speaking during a news conference Saturday afternoon, Gov. Tim Walz sharply criticized federal authorities and said Minnesota would take control of the investigation.

Walz said he had reviewed video of the incident.

“I’ve seen the videos from several angles and it’s sickening,” he said. “But I have a strong statement here for our federal government. Minnesota’s justice system will have the last word on this. It must have the last word.”

Earlier, Walz demanded an end to the federal immigration crackdown in his state.

“Minnesota has had it,” he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “This is sickening. The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.”

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The Associated Press identified the man as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse with Veterans Affairs.

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Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson also spoke during the news conference, urging calm and restraint.

“His family and friends are feeling unimaginable heartbreak and trauma,” Jacobson said. “I know Minnesotans and I know our community will rally around this man’s family and friends to support him.”

The City of Minneapolis called for calm, as they issued a statement on social media regarding the incident.

“We are aware of reports of another shooting involving federal law enforcement in the area of 26th Street W and Nicollet Ave.”

“We ask the public to remain calm and avoid the immediate area,” they wrote.

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Homeland Security officials said in a statement that at 9:05 a.m. CT, DHS law enforcement officers were conducting “a targeted operation in Minneapolis against an illegal alien wanted for violent assault when an individual approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun.”

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“The officers attempted to disarm the suspect, but the armed suspect violently 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, but the individual was pronounced dead at the scene,” the statement said.

Officials said the suspect had two magazines and no identification.

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“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,” the statement further said.

Amid the unrest, the National Basketball Association announced that Saturday’s game between the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center will be postponed to prioritize public safety.

The league said the game has been rescheduled for Sunday, Jan. 25, at 5:30 p.m. ET, at Target Center.

The governor’s comments come amid continued protests and legal disputes over the Jan. 7 shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good in Minneapolis and another injury-related The incident is the third shooting involving federal agents in Minneapolis in less than three weeks, following the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE officer and a separate injury shooting earlier in the month.

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Good, a mother of three, was killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent during a federal operation, which is now being investigated.

More to come.