Man Fatally Shot By ICE Agents In Minneapolis Was From IL: AP

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The man fatally shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Minneapolis on Saturday was an intensive care unit nurse who was born in Illinois, according to a report by The Associated Press.

Alex Pretti, 37, was shot multiple times by federal officers on Saturday morning during a confrontation near the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis, his family told the AP.

Federal authorities said Pretti was shot after he approached ICE agents with a handgun as they were conducting a targeted enforcement operation.

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According to his family, Pretti was a nurse at the Veterans Administration who cared deeply about people and was upset by President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in his city.

“He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong, so he did participate in protests," said Michael Pretti, Alex’s father.

The Department of Homeland Security said the shooting occurred as ICE agents were conducting a targeted operation in search of a person wanted for violent assault. Federal officials said the man approached agents with a handgun.

"The officers attempted to disarm the suspect, but the armed suspect violently resisted. More details on the armed struggle are forthcoming," DHS said in a statement. "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."

Federal officials said the man had two magazines as well as the gun.

Officials did not specify if Pretti brandished the gun, and it is not visible in bystander video of the shooting obtained by The Associated Press.

Family members said Pretti owned a handgun and had a Minnesota concealed carry permit. They said they had never known him to carry it.

In a recent conversation with their son, his parents, who live in Wisconsin, told him to be careful when protesting.

“We had this discussion with him two weeks ago or so, you know, that go ahead and protest, but do not engage, do not do anything stupid, basically,” Michael Pretti said. “And he said he knows that. He knew that.”

The shooting came amid widespread daily protests in the Twin Cities since the Jan. 7 shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good, who was killed when an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fired into her vehicle. A week later, a Venezuelan man was shot in the leg after federal officials claimed he tried to assault ICE agents.

Like Good, court records showed Pretti had no criminal record and his family said he had never had any interactions with law enforcement beyond a handful of traffic tickets.

At a news conference held after the shooting, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spoke directly to President Donald Trump, urging him to end federal operations in the city to achieve peace.

"How many more resident Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end? How many more lives need to be lost before this administration realizes a political and partisan narrative is not as important as American values?" Frey said. "How many times must local and national leaders plead with you, Donald Trump, for you to recognize this is not creating safety in our city?"

The Associated Press contributed reporting.