MN - One dead after Minneapolis shooting involving immigration agents, US media report, January 24, 2026

[Summerliz03]

He had no authority to "ensure the law was being followed". None. Zero

Any what, exactly, was he supposed to do if he thought the law was being broken? Intervene, insert himself into an active federal operation, approach working federal agents? Close distance and record based on how close he wanted to be? Ignore agent commands?

IMO

Document it with his cell phone, which is what the protesters have been doing (and is legal) He never approached anyone, in any video I saw. An agent went up to him and got in his face and pushed him back out of the street. He even says to the officer “I’m not the one blocking the street, you are”

It’s well within every protesters right to video and document how the ICE agents are conducting their raids. As we’ve seen, both through their videos as well as multiple lawsuits that have been filed, the ICE agents haven’t been following the law. All MOO.

 

[sds71]

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller says officials are evaluating why Customs and Border Protection agents in Minneapolis “may not have been following” proper protocol before the fatal shooting of VA nurse Alex Pretti.
In a statement to CNN, Miller said the White House had “provided clear guidance to DHS that the extra personnel that had been sent to Minnesota for force protection should be used for conducting fugitive operations to create a physical barrier between the arrest teams and the disruptors.”“We are evaluating why the CBP team may not have been following that protocol,” he said.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2016298353949344017

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Maybe his wallet was in his car and he stepped out of his car, like he did for his first encounter with ICE. I wonder if DHS may be betting on a technicality here. MOO

Or maybe he had his ID on his person and the administration is lying through their teeth.

MOO.

 

[SouthAussie]

Any what, exactly, was he supposed to do if he thought the law was being broken?

IMO

Maybe Alex could have filed for a citizen's arrest. IDK
Maybe that is what some of the observers are doing with their video footage.

https://www.stpaul.gov/sites/default/files/Media%20Root/Police/Arrest%20by%20pivate%20person%20015-93r.pdf#:~:text=The%20laws%20of%20the%20State%20of%20Minnesota,offense%20committed%20or%20attempted%20in%20his%20presence.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

SBM

Protecting criminal and other illegal immigrants? How is that their job?

They're not protecting criminals and other illegal immigrants. They're protesting how these enforcements are being carried out and documenting any abuses. And thank goodness they are. I can't imagine where we'd be if all of this was happening before cell phones.

MOO.

 

[Amonet]

Kyle Rittenhouse took a gun to a protest and that was absolutely fine. As was some of the J6 rioters taking guns to their 'protest'. Looks like we're back to '2nd amendment for me, but not for thee'.

That one shocked the heck out of me how there was such a difference in how people perceived what happened.

 

[Strangeworld]

There is no "humanitarian duty" to interfere with federal immigration officers who are following the law and arresting illegal immigrants. The humanitarian duty would have been to never encourage millions of people to enter our country illegally.

BBM

Yet to be determined

 

[Amonet]

Pretti chose to twice intervene in law enforcement operations that did not involve him. MLK was a man that advocated for peaceful protest. I find it disgusting that Pretti is compared to MLK or JFK.

While I wouldn't compare AP to anyone, his second 'intervention' that led to his death was to go to the assistance of a woman who'd been shoved to the snowy/icy ground. He appeared to want to help the woman up, not to be threatening the officer who shoved her.

I think on a human level it could be understandable that someone might want to shove that officer back and have some strong words in his face. But it didn't look like that's what AP was doing.

The woman being shoved to the ground did not involve AP in any way. What kind of a person would want to go to her assistance and help her up? It might sound like I'm being funny here, but I'm not....I'm saying that these actions are really hard to see a bad side in them.

What did the officers think he was going to do to the woman that warranted tear gassing him and tackling him to the ground?

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

What J6 protesters had firearms?

Respectfully, in response to the post # 1201 of @PrairieWind above, yes, IIUC it seems ‘January 6’ protestors were armed.

Wherein the question was posed by OP: “What J6 protestors had firearms?”

Reference Reuters online January 16, 2025 article entitled ‘Fact Check: US Capitol attack rioters had weapons, including firearms’:

Fact Check: US Capitol attack rioters had weapons, including firearms

Witness testimony and evidence in legal cases against supporters of President Donald Trump who stormed the U.S. Capitol in January 2021 show that some of the rioters had weapons, contrary to social media posts saying the attack could not be called an “insurrection” because none of the...

www.reuters.com

ETA and apologies to @Summerliz03 …. You had already cited this earlier on the thread. Thank you. I did not find that til later.

 

[303gmf]

SBM

Protecting criminal and other illegal immigrants? How is that their job?

Protecting neighbors, friends, families & employees

Workers at their neighborhood businesses they frequent

I have interaction with humans at my favorite restaurants, stores or service employees needed in my home

I don’t ask anyone if one is this county legally or not, or assume because of skin color or accent they aren’t citizens but I’d sure help protect them from abuse and tearing from family and community

We live in a multicultural melting pot on this planet and are ALL human beings

 

[Amonet]

I think there’s a line of thinking where any time a person is within close proximity of a federal agent, they must be “interfering”.

Snipped by me. Yes, I would agree with this.

I think some people just want the public to stay well away and let the officers get on with what they're doing. And those people believe that what the officers are trying to do is to arrest violent criminal illegal immigrants. I think that's what some people are trying to defend.

 

[Summerliz03]

Protecting neighbors, friends, families & employees

Workers at their neighborhood businesses they frequent

I have interaction with humans at my favorite restaurants, stores or service employees needed in my home

I don’t ask anyone if one is this county legally or not, or assume because of skin color or accent they aren’t citizens but I’d sure help protect them from abuse and tearing from family and community

We live in a multicultural melting pot on this planet and are ALL human beings

This 100%. This is what makes America great. And unless you are 100% Native American, we are all here in this country because our ancestors were immigrants.

 

[Charlot123]

.

If the administration had been appalled by Good’s killing and called ICE to account back on 7 January, instead of Trump hailing them as “great patriots” who can apparently do as they like, Pretti would be alive today.

As Trump starts shifting and changing his rhetoric because of the last few days’ backlash, maybe some (who now don’t) will eventually allow themselves to start viewing Pretti’s murder as unjustifiable and unacceptable.

Let me put it so. We had certain power issues, on both sides, and I blame Fox News and the news in general for so polarizing the country that the people can’t even dispute events civilly.

So I would not blame those who vote not the way I do. This time, many voted just for the lowering of taxes, one of the main reasons to vote for the GOP.

For them, it might be easy - they can say, “I didn’t vote for this”, and become swing voters as they usually are.

The people who put their whole faith into this government are the ones that I feel sorry for. They may be against immigrants, gays, people of color, different religion, whatnot.

But surely to see two of your own citizens, one of whom bore three kids and another, was a VA ICU nurse who loved his dog, an altogether very positive person, even went to church like they do…

How to process it? And this is done in Minnesota the state of mostly old German/Scandinavian stock, which may matter to them, hardworking, kind.

I think many people are in the state of cognitive dissonance. I actually feel sorry for them. This is why I see so many cliche rationales - “I never argue with law enforcement and am alive to tell the tale”, it is on many Facebooks now. I think that people must be honestly lost.

One can pray, talk, imagine how it feels in Minnesota now and finally, find the way to think of what to do and how to behave and what to ask of their states’ representatives.

@BayouBelle_LA ... Before you reject, I suggest you study what was going on in Germany between 1929-1933,

FOUR YEARS Hitler had to connive, plan, set up corrupt dealings, and constantly discredit and lie about his opponents (Democratic Republic). He was now winning over the Middle Class... to honor him, to rotely repeat his lies, and to do his damage.
Once in power in 1933, he slowly and steadily began to round up and imprison people for often meaningless crimes.

This was WAY before anyone knew of 600,000 murders.

If you cannot see why so many folks have a fear of "History Repeating Itself"... well..... Respectively, I think you are really missing something.

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-nazi-rise-to-power

Yes, the Nazism didn’t happen overnight and out of 37% who voted for NSDAP in the federal elections of 1932, there probably were Jews as well. They thought it won’t touch them, and indeed, for a while after Hitler usurped the power, he spared the Jews who fought in WWI and received the Iron Cross. So like some Mexicans who voted for GOP this time hoping that it won’t touch them, lots of people who voted for Hitler thought they’d be safe. Big mistake.

No one was safe. Google how many Germans perished in concentration camps. How many clergy did. Not to speak about this massive horrific war, how many perished there.

But there is another thing. Give or take, Germany was disciplined, Hitler hired the brightest people, they could dispute with him, they could say no. He had a very specific personality, was not paranoid and was not afraid to lose the power. Far from it. So his system was organized differently. Less personal dedication, more the ability to work for the country.

The US is huge, not too organized, multi-cultural. The coasts think differently. It won’t be Nazism. It will be chaos.

Another thing. I came from a very different society that was authoritarian as well. And when there are 70+ years of ideology, people grow up in fear. This fear is hard to shed. US doesn’t have it. People value their democratic institutions, their states’ self-governance. They remember their history.

If there is an alt-right regime for 10 years, it won’t break the people. More - and there is a risk to change the mentality and inner core of the people. Not “someone illegal” - your neighbors, too.

To @BayouBelle_LA: We may have totally different views but I presume you are patriotic. You won’t like fear of the government to creep in and take roots in the souls of your fellow Americans.

 

[Strangeworld]

I can't help thinking about some of the frustrations of ICE that are clearly evident in not just videos relating to Alex' death but also other interactions with protesters - with the words 'peaceful protest' or lack thereof thrown around, I wonder how the ICE agents feel that they have been deployed with guns and self-perceived authority, yet they feel disturbed in their duties by people blowing whistles, filming and in most cases verbally engaging.

Shouldn't LE deployed with deadly weapons be mentally stronger to deal with these interactions and perceived distractions from protesters? IMO

It worries me that someone blowing a whistle or chanting could distract armed LE from focusing on their job.

Hmmmm.....

 

[Jade]

I'm afraid it does appear that they were angry that someone tried to go to the aid of someone they had shoved to the ground. And that they really took out that anger on Mr Pretti. Someone helping the woman to her feet and checking she's okay wouldn't have interfered with their duties.

I don't think this is behaviour becoming of LE.

I've also noticed disagreement when some posters have used the word "murder" about this incident. I think it's fair to say that those officers didn't have intent to kill before Mr Pretti was on the ground. But what about manslaughter instead of "murder"? Sometimes people can use those two words interchangeably in common speech even though they have different legal meanings.

I used the word murder knowing that means premeditation.

Murder with malice and intent, imo.

Manslaughter is without malice, requires provocation, voluntary, or extreme carelessness, involuntary.

I refuse to believe that the Federal government pays the salaries and gives big guns to officers so instantaneously triggered, so throughly, by a lone male nurse with a camera helping a women they shoved to the ground that the entire masked mob attacked taking the guy down to the ground and proceeding to empty their weapons into his incapacitated body without intent and premeditation to harm him or anyone else that they decided to set on.

Further to hear ICE officers broke Mr. Pretti’s rib previously along with their admitting to tracking protesters I’m even more convinced they recognized him as the whistler and carried out a premeditated devastating attack.

Otherwise why would it go so quick, with lethal force, all coordinated?

We’ve all now seen the pictures of Mr. Pretti. He exudes kindness. His eyes, that have seen such suffering as a Nurse, so gentle.

Mentally he got to them by protesting then being good and kind to the woman so they killed him.

But I will take care not to go on making such strong assertions without authority.

Thank you for your thought provoking post.

All imo

 

[keek]

This 100%. This is what makes America great. And unless you are 100% Native American, we are all here in this country because our ancestors were immigrants.

Brave, brave immigrant young men and women. Some families carrying babies, taking a huge leap of hope and faith. Little money at all, just believing. Could 'you' of done what your ancestors did? The long and not pleasant AT ALL boat ride across the oceans. Not a cruise. Leaving their parents, sisters, brothers and childhood friends. Fortunate are we that do know at least some of our recent immigrant family members, and I mean past 100 years, while we could in younger days, such as grandparents. The sorrows of leaving their families because THEY HAD to for money to save themselves and their families back home. Just like today. Just like today. Immigration changed, huge money is needed. The 'hated ones' are coming from dirt. No money to be made. How VERY fortunate 'you' are if your ancestors braved all to come here and where 'you' enjoy all the comforts they provided for you. 'You' need to know why they came here even if from a country that is just fine now. It obviously wasn't for them at the time. IMO

 

[Ruminations]

I would love to know if they ever did end up finding their target.

Bovino said in his last press conference that the suspect is still at large. He was blaming that on the observers, not on his own agents who lost focus, lol. They should be off the job for the extra-judicial killing. But if they never assaulted observers and simply engaged verbally with them, letting their suspect get away, then they should be off the job for that.

There suspect was in a shop! How many exits were there? All they had to do was wait for the suspect to come out, or for a warrant to go in.

I have no idea if the suspect really did anything criminal himself- but I rather doubt it. The donut shop employees were traumatized by watching extrajudicial killing on the sidewalk, but no harm came from inviting the suspect in.

MOO

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

They actually didn't state why. Unless I missed it? Why is it inappropriate?

Credit to the people at the U.S. Holocaust museum for remaining grounded in reality instead of some ideological fantasy world.

MSN

"Anne Frank was targeted and murdered solely because she was Jewish," the museum wrote in a statement shared on X on Monday, Jan. 26. "Leaders making false equivalencies to her experience for political purposes is never acceptable. Despite tensions in Minneapolis, exploiting the Holocaust is deeply offensive, especially as antisemitism surges."

 

[branmuffin]

What J6 protesters had firearms?

Guy Reffitt, Christopher Alberts, Mark Ibrahim (an off duty DEA agent), Lonnie Coffman had a truck with a handgun, a rifle and a shotgun, machetes, Molotoff cocktails. All convicted, all pardoned by Trump. I'm surprised that this is the first time you've heard of this. I'm operating on the assumption that these guys were the unlucky ones who got caught. There were also people who brought less obvious weapons like flagpoles, bear and pepper spray, baseball bats. I live in Canada and it was all over the news in legitimate papers like WaPo, BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, NPR, Associated Press, Bloomberg. What was your news source?

 

[Amonet]

I used the word murder knowing that means premeditation.

Murder with malice and intent, imo.

Manslaughter is without malice, requires provocation, voluntary, or extreme carelessness, involuntary.

I refuse to believe that the Federal government pays the salaries and gives big guns to officers so instantaneously triggered, so throughly, by a lone male nurse with a camera helping a women they shoved to the ground that the entire masked mob attacked taking the guy down to the ground and proceeding to empty their weapons into his incapacitated body without intent and premeditation to harm him or anyone else that they decided to set on.

Further to hear ICE officers broke Mr. Pretti’s rib previously along with their admitting to tracking protesters I’m even more convinced they recognized him as the whistler and carried out a premeditated devastating attack.

Otherwise why would it go so quick, with lethal force, all coordinated?

We’ve all now seen the pictures of Mr. Pretti. He exudes kindness. His eyes, that have seen such suffering as a Nurse, so gentle.

Mentally he got to them by protesting then being good and kind to the woman so they killed him.

But I will take care not to go on making such strong assertions without authority.

Thank you for your thought provoking post.

All imo

Thanks for the explanation of your thinking.

Those officers did not know anything about AP. They did not know he was a nurse. All they knew was that he was among the observers to their actions, that he had been filming them. And that he went over to a woman one of them had shoved to the ground. in my mind it's clear he was going to assist the woman who'd been shoved.

I think it's important in events like this to separate out what we know in hindsight and what they would have known in the moment.