Federal and Minnesota Officials Clash Over Immigration Raids After Minneapolis Shooting

MINNEAPOLIS (JN) – Federal and Minnesota state officials are publicly clashing over responsibility and accountability after a Minneapolis man was fatally shot during a federal immigration operation, a case that has intensified scrutiny of enforcement tactics and sparked protests across the city.

The shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, occurred during a weekend operation by federal immigration officers and has triggered dueling news conferences, legal action by state authorities, and sharply contrasting narratives about what unfolded on the street.

At the center of the dispute are competing claims over whether federal agents acted defensively, whether Pretti posed a threat, and whether state investigators have been improperly blocked from the scene.

Federal and state leaders offer opposing accounts

Speaking in Minneapolis on Sunday, Governor Tim Walz accused the federal government of operating without sufficient restraint or transparency, urging the public to consider the broader implications of the enforcement campaign.

He described the shooting as emblematic of what he called an “unchecked federal presence,” arguing that state officials and local communities were being sidelined in matters affecting public safety.

Roughly 20 miles away, federal officials delivered a sharply different message. Border Patrol senior official Greg Bovino said the encounter escalated because Pretti interfered with an active law enforcement operation.

Bovino stopped short of detailed commentary on Sunday, saying he would defer to the ongoing investigation, but maintained that federal officers had faced interference during the incident.

Video evidence raises questions about official claims

Bystander video reviewed by the Associated Press appears to challenge initial statements from the Trump administration that agents fired defensively after Pretti advanced toward them with a weapon.

The footage shows Pretti holding a mobile phone as he stepped between an immigration agent and a woman who had been pushed to the ground. No video reviewed shows him brandishing a firearm before the shooting.

During the struggle, officers appear to discover that Pretti was carrying a concealed 9-millimeter handgun. Authorities later confirmed he was legally licensed to carry the weapon.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem initially said Pretti attacked officers, while Bovino had earlier claimed the man intended to carry out a mass assault. Those assertions have since been tempered as investigations proceed.

Family condemns federal narrative

Pretti’s relatives said they were devastated by his death and angered by what they described as false and damaging characterizations by federal officials.

In a statement, the family said video evidence contradicts claims that Pretti posed an immediate threat, asserting that he was attempting to shield another person while being pepper-sprayed.

They urged authorities and the public to focus on verified evidence rather than rhetoric, calling for accountability and transparency in the investigation.

Pretti worked as an intensive care nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital. A previously shared video from 2024 shows him speaking at a memorial for a deceased veteran, emphasizing civic duty and sacrifice.

Legal battle over access to evidence

The shooting has also prompted an unusual legal confrontation between state and federal authorities.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said the state filed suit to prevent the destruction or alteration of evidence, arguing that federal officials had restricted state investigators’ access to the scene.

A federal judge has ordered the administration to preserve all evidence related to the incident. A court hearing is scheduled for Monday in St. Paul.

Drew Evans, superintendent of Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said federal officers initially barred his agency from the scene despite a signed judicial warrant. State investigators were later allowed limited access.

Federal officials dismissed the lawsuit as unfounded. Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said claims of potential evidence destruction were politically motivated and misleading.

Protests, policing strain, and National Guard deployment

The shooting occurred in a city already on edge following another fatal encounter involving federal officers earlier this year.

Protests erupted Saturday, with demonstrators confronting immigration agents, blocking streets, and clashing with police. Federal officers deployed tear gas during the unrest.

Governor Walz authorized a temporary National Guard deployment to support local police and secure federal buildings. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said by Sunday that city officers had resumed full responsibility for policing duties.

O’Hara said there was no evidence indicating Pretti had drawn his weapon during the confrontation and warned that sustained federal operations were straining local law enforcement resources.

Political fallout widens

The White House criticized Walz, accusing him of undermining law enforcement and encouraging protesters to interfere with federal officers.

Several Democratic lawmakers, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, called for federal immigration agents to withdraw from Minnesota.

Former President Barack Obama described Pretti’s death as a tragedy and warned that the episode reflected deeper challenges to long-standing national values.

Gun rights advocates noted that Minnesota law permits licensed individuals to carry firearms in public, including during protests, though legal experts say that fact alone does not determine the lawfulness of police use of force.

Vigil marks shift from anger to mourning

By Sunday evening, the scene of the shooting had transformed into a memorial. Police blocked traffic as mourners gathered with candles, flowers, and prayers in sub-zero temperatures.

Some sang quietly. Others stood in silence. The atmosphere contrasted sharply with the confrontations of the previous day.

Brett Williams, who traveled from a nearby suburb to attend a vigil, said the gathering was about solidarity and dignity.

“He stood up for someone else,” Williams said. “That matters.”