New details have emerged showing that Alex Pretti, the Minneapolis man shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent over the weekend, was involved in a violent confrontation with federal officers just one week earlier.
Pretti, 37, reportedly suffered a broken rib after being tackled by multiple agents while attempting to block President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts, according to a source cited by CNN.
The earlier incident unfolded after Pretti allegedly stopped his vehicle when he saw Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers chasing an illegal alien on foot.
According to the source, Pretti began shouting, blowing a whistle, and attempting to interfere with the arrest.
He was then tackled by five agents and engaged in what was described as a violent scuffle, during which he allegedly broke his ribs.
Pretti, an ICU nurse, reportedly believed he “was going to die” during the encounter.
He was released at the scene, but sources indicated that he remained on federal agents’ radar afterward.
Federal Agents Documented Protest Activity
Documents obtained by CNN show that federal agents deployed to Minneapolis earlier this month were instructed to “capture all images, license plates, identifications, and general information on hotels, agitators, protestors.”
Federal officers are understood to have collected and maintained documentation related to Pretti, though it remains unclear when information gathering on him first began.
Fatal Shooting During Enforcement Operation
Pretti was shot and killed Saturday morning during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Pretti was armed and became involved in a roughly 30-second physical struggle with agents around 9 a.m.
Agents feared he would open fire.
DHS said the shots were fired “defensively” after Pretti “approached” agents with a firearm.
During the scuffle, agents discovered he was carrying a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and opened fire.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem later described Pretti as a “domestic terrorist,” a label President Donald Trump himself has not publicly used.
Trump Backs Noem, Shifts Command Structure
Following the shooting and the escalating unrest, President Trump tapped border czar Tom Homan to take over Minnesota operations from Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino.
Democrats in Congress have since circulated an impeachment resolution against Noem, reportedly garnering more than 120 signatures.
Trump, however, has forcefully rejected any calls for her removal.
“I think she’s doing a very good job,” the president told reporters outside the White House on Tuesday.
“The border is totally secure … we had a border that we inherited where millions of people were coming through, now we have a border where no one is coming through.”
Local Leaders Signal De-Escalation Talks
In a possible sign of de-escalation, Democrat Mayor Jacob Frey announced that “some federal agents” would be leaving Minneapolis, though he did not provide specifics.
Frey also said he planned to meet with Homan on Tuesday.
President Trump confirmed that he spoke with both Frey and Minnesota’s Democrat Governor Tim Walz on Monday.
“We, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
Walz described the call as “productive” and said impartial investigations into the shootings were needed.
He also stated that Minnesota’s Department of Corrections honors federal requests for individuals in state custody.
Walz’s office later confirmed that the governor met with Homan and agreed that continued dialogue was necessary.
Legal Challenges Continue
Despite the shift in tone, immigration officers remained active across the Twin Cities region as of Tuesday.
It remains unclear whether federal tactics have changed.
A federal judge in Minneapolis heard arguments Monday over claims that the deployment of federal officers violates Minnesota’s sovereignty.
In a separate hearing, another judge considered a request to compel federal officials to preserve evidence related to Pretti’s killing, saying she would rule quickly.
Meanwhile, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons has been called to appear in Minnesota federal court on Friday in connection with a separate case involving a suspected illegal alien challenging his detention.
READ MORE – Nurses Vow to Refuse Treatment for Trump Supporters, Urge Public to Harm ICE Agents
Our comment section is restricted to members of the Slay News community only.
To join, create a free account HERE.
If you are already a member, log in HERE.