Alex Pretti broke rib in violent confrontation with ICE just days before he was shot dead in Minneapolis
It was revealed that Alex Pretti was injured in a fight with federal agents in Minneapolis just a week before he was shot and killed.
A source said Pretti, 37, suffered a broken rib after being attacked by a group of police officers during a protest against Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigrants. CNN.
The insider said the alleged assault occurred after Pretti stopped his car after seeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers chasing a family on foot.
Pretti allegedly began yelling and whistling and was then tackled to the ground by five agents. The source claimed an officer leaned on his back, causing his ribs to break.
It was reported that the intensive care nurse who allegedly ‘thought she was going to die’ was released at the scene, but allegedly remained on the radar of federal agents.
Agents assigned to Minneapolis were instructed earlier this month to ‘seize all images, license plates, IDs and general information about hotels, agitators and protesters’, according to documents obtained by the media.
Federal officials appear to have withheld documented details about Pretti, but it’s unclear when they first began gathering information about him.
He was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis on Saturday.
Alex Pretti, 37, suffered a broken rib after being attacked by a group of federal officers during a protest about a week before he was shot and killed, a source told CNN.
Multiple eyewitness videos show a Border Patrol agent shooting and killing Pretti after a fight of about 30 seconds around 9 a.m. Saturday.
The videos appear to contradict statements from DHS, which said the shots were fired ‘defensively’ because Pretti was ‘approaching’ Pretti with a gun.
In the videos, Pretti can be seen holding only a phone. None of the footage shows him with a gun.
During the struggle, agents noticed the man was carrying a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun and fired several shots.
A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Trump administration from “destroying or altering evidence” related to Pretti’s death.
It has not been confirmed whether Pretti’s gun fired any shots.
Department of Homeland Security boss Kristi Noem was quick to label Pretti a domestic terrorist; It’s a title Trump himself hasn’t mentioned.
Following the attack, the president announced that Border Czar Tom Homan would assume operational control of deportations in Minnesota.
Dissatisfaction with the Trump administration’s deportation crackdown and with ICE and CBP has grown since Pretti was shot and killed. The latest Daily Mail/JL Partners poll found that Noem is also experiencing a serious loss of confidence.
Congressional Democrats have already begun circulating an impeachment resolution against Noem, with more than 120 signatures. But they are unlikely to succeed, given Republicans’ control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The White House had tried to hold Democratic leaders responsible for the protests of federal officials conducting immigration raids.
But after Pretti’s killing and videos suggesting he was not an active threat, the administration tapped Homan to take over responsibility for the Minnesota operation from Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino.
In another possible sign of easing tensions, Mayor Jacob Frey announced that “some federal agents” would leave the Minnesota city, without providing details.
Frey also announced plans to meet with Homan on Tuesday.
Trump spoke by phone with Frey and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz on Monday and had what he called “great conversations.”
“We actually seemed to be on a similar wavelength,” the president wrote in a social media post. Walz said in a statement that the call was “productive” and that impartial investigations into the shootings are needed.
Trump said his administration is looking for “all types” of criminals in state custody. Walz said the state Department of Corrections is complying with federal requests for people in custody.
Walz’s office said in a statement Tuesday that the Democratic governor spoke with Homan and called for impartial investigations into shootings involving federal officers. According to the governor, they agreed that the meeting should continue.
Immigration officers were still operating in the Twin Cities area on Tuesday, and it was unclear whether officials changed tactics after the White House’s change of tone.
A federal judge in Minneapolis heard arguments Monday about whether the deployment of federal officers violated the sovereignty of the state of Minnesota.
In a separate hearing, a judge was considering a request to force federal officials to preserve evidence in Pretti’s killing, saying he would rule quickly.
Acting ICE director Todd Lyons was also ordered to appear in Minnesota federal court on Friday in a lawsuit challenging a man’s detention by the agency.
This is breaking news. Check back for updates.
