US Border Patrol agents placed on leave after fatal Minnesota incident
Myles Miller
Updated ,first published
Two U.S. Border Patrol agents involved in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti have been placed on administrative leave as scrutiny intensifies over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, Customs and Border Protection said.
A CBP spokesman said the move was “standard protocol” following an officer-involved shooting, without providing additional details about the status of the investigation.
The development comes as the White House issued warnings to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey about his refusal to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (Washington time) that New York and other Democratic-led cities are “moving in the wrong direction” even as his administration has said it wants to ease tensions in Minnesota.
Pretti’s killing on January 24 sparked widespread criticism, including from Republicans. Democrats are threatening to block funding to the Department of Homeland Security unless restrictions are placed on enforcement operations.
Pretti, a critical care nurse, was the second U.S. citizen killed by federal agents during clashes in Minneapolis over Trump’s increased sanctions.
Pretti was legally carrying a gun at the time of the encounter, but available video did not show him brandishing the gun. The video showed agents disarming him before he was shot.
Renee Good, a mother of three, was shot and killed on January 7.
State and local officials called for independent investigations into both killings and a reduction in the federal presence, warning that aggressive enforcement tactics risked further loss of life.
The situation comes as some federal agents left Minneapolis and Trump sent border czar Tom Homan to take over ICE operations in the city, changing his strategy amid ongoing unrest and growing political backlash.
Homan effectively replaced the Border Patrol’s overall commander, Greg Bovino, who was the face of the special enforcement operation in Minneapolis, and faced criticism for saying — without evidence — that Pretti intended to “massacre” the officers.
Meanwhile, details are beginning to emerge showing that the man accused of spraying an unknown substance on Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar at a town hall in Minneapolis had a criminal history and had made online posts supporting President Donald Trump.
Minnesota court records show Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, was convicted of aggravated auto theft in 1989, had multiple arrests for driving under the influence and received numerous traffic tickets. There are also indications that he is experiencing significant financial problems, including two bankruptcy filings.
Police said Kazmierczak used a syringe to spray liquid on Omar after she called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Tuesday (Minnesota time) and the impeachment or removal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following the fatal shootings of Good and Pretti.
Police spokesman Trevor Folke said officers immediately caught up and arrested Kazmierczak, who was jailed on a charge of third-degree assault.
Photographs of the syringe that fell when the man was treated show that it contained a light brown liquid. Authorities have not publicly identified the substance.
According to an Associated Press reporter who was there, there was a strong, vinegar-like odor in the room after the attack. Forensic scientists were called, but none of the approximately 100 people present showed any visible physical reaction to the substance.
Omar continued speaking for about 25 minutes after Kazmierczak was taken out, saying he would not be intimidated. He said that he was a little worried when he left, but that he was not hurt and that he would be examined by the medical team.
She later shared on
Kazmierczak had not been formally charged or scheduled for an initial court appearance as of Wednesday morning. The Hennepin County District Attorney’s Office has until Thursday to charge him but may request an extension. A spokesman for the prosecutor’s office did not immediately respond to a call seeking more information.
It’s unclear whether Kazmierczak has an attorney who can speak on his behalf. Michael Berger, the county’s chief public defender, said the case was not transferred to his office.
A neighbor told New York Post He said Kazmierczak told Omar he was going to city hall and “I might get arrested.”
In his social media posts, Kazmierczak described himself as a former network engineer living in Minneapolis. Among other things, he made comments critical of former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and called Democrats “angry and liars.”
Omar, a progressive, has been a frequent target of Trump’s barbs since joining Congress in 2019.
That year, Trump called on Omar and three other congresswomen of color, known as the “squad,” to “go back” to their country if they wanted to criticize the United States. Omar was only one of four people born outside the United States, and his family immigrated to that country as a child while fleeing violence in Somalia.
At a Cabinet meeting in December, Trump referred to her as “trash.” Earlier Tuesday, the president criticized her in a speech to a crowd in Iowa, saying his administration would only allow in immigrants who can “show they love our country.”
When asked about the attack, Trump told ABC News he had not seen the footage and accused Omar of orchestrating the attack.
“He was probably sprayed too because he knew him,” Trump said.
Bloomberg, A.P.
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