Outraged Protests Erupt Nationwide After Another Deadly Shooting By ICE In Minneapolis: 'He Was A Good Man'

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The second fatal shooting of an individual by ICE in Minneapolis sparked a sea of protests from coast to coast Saturday.

The man fatally shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Minneapolis on Saturday was an intensive care unit nurse who lived in south Minneapolis, according to a report citing family members. Gov. Tim Walz also activated the Minnesota National Guard on Saturday to assist local police amid growing protests.

Protesters took to streets, chanting "ICE out," "Immigrants are welcome here," and more Saturday after Alex Pretti, 37, was shot and killed by ICE.

Pretti was shot multiple times by federal officers on Saturday morning during a confrontation near the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, his family told The Associated Press. Federal authorities said Pretti was shot after he approached ICE agents with a handgun as they were conducting a targeted enforcement operation.

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.

CNN reported that video shows a federal officer taking a gun from Peretti before the fatal shooting.

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

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.

It also comes a day after thousands of demonstrators protesting the crackdown on immigrants crowded the city’s streets in frigid weather, calling for federal law enforcement to leave.

Protests spread across the nation. According to Time Magazine, on Saturday, "protesters clashed with federal agents for hours as the city convulsed with anger over the killing of Pretti. Federal agents fired tear gas, flash bang grenades and pepper balls."

Protests also broke out in Seattle, according to the Seattle Times. Deborah Nelson, 71, of Seattle, told the outlet: "(President Donald) Trump and his thugs must be stopped. Groups like ours are going to fight until we make the U.S. a democracy again."

Residents in Los Angeles also gathered to protest, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. The Los Angeles Police Department posted on X about street closures due to the marchers.

“We’re here to stand with the family of Alex Pretti,” said speaker Anjelica Salas, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. “We want the family to know that we’re here grieving with them, that there are people across America who know this is horrible, that it’s atrocious.”

"Whose streets? Our streets!" people in Minneapolis chanted at the protest after the shooting; the protest was shown in a YouTube video by Roland S. Martin.

Protests were also held across America in spots including Milwaukee, according to WTMJ-TV, in Chicago, according to Block Club Chicago, and in Durham, NC, according to WRAL News.

Pretti's parents also issued a statement, obtained by CNN. "We are heartbroken but also very angry," said his parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, according to the outlet. "Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world."

His parents noted that their son was seen helping a woman in the crowd.

"Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the hero term lightly," Michael and Susan said, according to the outlet. "However his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting," the statement continued. "Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed. Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you."

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.”

At a news conference held after the shooting, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spoke directly to President 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?"

In a post shared on social media, Walz said he spoke with the White House following the shooting.
“I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning,” Walz said. “Minnesota has had it. This is sickening. The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.”

President Donald Trump weighed in on social media by lashing out at Walz and the Minneapolis mayor.

Trump shared images of the gun that immigration officials said was recovered and said: “What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?”

Trump, a Republican, said the Democratic governor and mayor are “are inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric.”

Also on Saturday, U.S. Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also weighed in on X — and vowed to take action.

"What's happening in Minnesota is appalling — and unacceptable in any American city. Democrats sought common sense reforms in the Department of Homeland Security spending bill, but because of Republican's refusal to stand up to President Trump, the DHS bill is woefully inadequate to rein in the abuses of ICE. I will vote no. Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included."

With reporting by Megan VerHelst.