Another person shot and killed by federal agents
Updated ,first published
Washington: A 37-year-old man believed to be an American citizen was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, US, less than three weeks after Renee Good was killed by an immigration agent, sparking a national outcry.
Video published by local media shows federal agents wrestling a man to the ground on a Minneapolis street, then firing several shots and the man stops moving. The image had no context (Warning: explicit language and graphic views)
Minneapolis police Chief Brian O’Hara said the deceased was a 37-year-old white man from Minneapolis who is believed to be a U.S. citizen.
Associated Press and Minnesota Stars Tribune She later identified him as critical care nurse Alex Pretti, citing his parents and sources familiar with the case.
The federal Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the man was carrying a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun when he approached officers.
“Officers attempted to disarm the suspect, but the armed suspect violently resisted. More details regarding the gunfight will be forthcoming,” said DHS deputy secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
“Fearing for his own life and safety and that of other officers, an agent opened fire in defense. Paramedics at the scene immediately provided medical aid to the suspect, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.”
The man approached Border Patrol officers while they were conducting a targeted operation against an illegal immigrant wanted for violent assault, McLaughlin said.
He said the man was carrying two magazines full of ammunition and had no identification. However, he did not provide information about who the man was, whether he was the target’s partner, a protester or an American citizen.
It was also unclear whether the man was waving the gun at officers. Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino said the investigation would examine the details, but it appeared the man wanted to “inflict maximum harm and decimate law enforcement officers.”
Police Chief O’Hara said the man was a licensed gun owner with a permit to carry and had no criminal record other than traffic violations.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said footage of the incident clearly showed more than six masked agents “beating and shooting one of our voters to death.”
He implored President Donald Trump to end ICE’s special enforcement operation in Minneapolis, saying a major American city was “occupied by its own federal government.”
“How many more residents, how many more Americans, need to die or be seriously injured before this operation ends?” said Frey.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he spoke to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles after the attack and demanded that she withdraw ICE from the state. He said the state should also conduct the investigation.
“Minnesota’s justice system will have the final say on this matter. It should have the final say on this matter,” Walz said. “The federal government cannot be trusted to handle this investigation. The state will handle this, period.”
Walz said he saw the “sickening” video from several angles. “This is an organized campaign of brutality against our state,” he said. “This needs to be an event that says: enough.”
After the shooting, protesters and federal agents continued to clash on the city’s icy streets. Live footage broadcast on US television showed police officers repeatedly firing tear gas at demonstrators who chanted “shame” and shouted “f— ICE”.
O’Hara said the protests are considered an unauthorized assembly and people should go home. Local police were dispatched to the scene.
Tensions have been high since ICE launched a major enforcement operation in Minneapolis weeks ago, and were exacerbated by Good’s Jan. 7 killing.
In that case, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said several hours after the shooting that Good had participated in “domestic terrorism” and that the ICE agent shot him in self-defense, despite footage that casts that narrative into doubt.
Initial reactions to Saturday’s shooting suggested the same narrative would continue. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, in his remarks about
In a lengthy social media post, Trump posted a photo of the gun allegedly belonging to the dead man and accused Walz and Frey of inciting the insurrection with “flashy, dangerous and arrogant rhetoric.”
“These arrogant political idiots must be looking for Billions of Dollars stolen from the people of Minnesota and the United States of America,” Trump said. “LET OUR ICE CITIZENS DO THEIR WORK!”
Take notes directly from our foreign country reporters about things that make headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What’s on in the World Newsletter.
Michael Koziol is the North America correspondent for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, Sun-Herald deputy editor and a federal political correspondent in Canberra.Connect with: excitement or email.
