In Minneapolis, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sparked controversy with her remarks on the recent shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse. Pretti was fatally shot by federal agents during an immigration operation near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue. Noem, addressing the incident in Washington, D.C., questioned Pretti's decision to carry a legally owned firearm instead of a protest sign, casting doubt on the peaceful intent of his actions.
“I don’t know of any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Pretti, an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, was confirmed by Minneapolis police to have been a resident with a clean criminal record, barring minor parking offenses, and legally permitted to carry a firearm under state law. Noem's statements followed accounts from the Department of Homeland Security alleging that Pretti brandished a handgun and violently resisted officers before being shot.
“This individual went and impeded law enforcement operations, attacked those officers, had a weapon on him and multiple rounds of ammunition,” Noem said. She characterized the presence of a weapon as indicative of an intent to "inflict maximum damage," rather than peaceful protest.
However, video evidence circulating online has raised questions about the official narrative. Footage from the scene shows Pretti with a cellphone in hand moments before the altercation, and another video suggests an officer took possession of Pretti's handgun just seconds before another agent fired the fatal shots.
Civil liberties advocates and critics of DHS have accused Noem of prematurely attacking a shooting victim and misrepresenting the incident while the investigation is still active. They argue that the video evidence does not support the claim of violent resistance.
Noem also directed criticism at Minnesota Democratic leaders, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, blaming them for creating an environment she believes encourages violence against law enforcement. Meanwhile, DHS officials have stated that the operation was aimed at arresting an Ecuadorian national on various charges, and Pretti's involvement began as part of the protests against the arrest.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara confirmed that Pretti was not the target of the federal operation and that city police were not involved in the shooting. The incident has intensified ongoing protests and has had a profound impact on the local medical community, as colleagues remember Pretti as a dedicated healthcare professional.
The shooting is the third involving federal agents in Minneapolis in recent weeks, with another case resulting in the death of 38-year-old Renee Nicole Good. As investigations continue, Minneapolis grapples with the unfolding implications of these federal operations and their tragic outcomes.
