High-ranking members within President Donald Trump’s administration have stood by the actions of immigration agents involved in the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis. This comes despite video evidence that challenges the official narrative and amidst escalating tensions between local police and federal authorities.
Amidst the snow and cold, locals gathered at a makeshift memorial of flowers and candles to honor Alex Pretti, who was killed on Saturday. This incident marks the second fatal shooting by federal officers in Minneapolis within the same month. The Trump administration contends that Pretti’s aggressive actions towards officers justified the use of lethal force in self-defense.
During an appearance on CNN, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino focused on Pretti’s possession of a firearm, which he was legally authorized to carry. However, Bovino did not provide evidence to support claims that Pretti was obstructing a law enforcement operation.
“The victims are border patrol agents,” Bovino stated, emphasizing that “law enforcement doesn’t assault anyone.”
Both Bovino and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have accused Pretti of attacking the agents, as well as rioting and obstruction.
Speaking on Fox News’ Sunday Briefing program, Noem asserted, “We do know that he came to that scene and impeded a law enforcement operation, which is against federal law. It’s a felony. When he did that, interacting with those agents, when they tried to get him to disengage, he became aggressive and resisted them.”
That official line, echoed by other Trump officials on Sunday, triggered outrage from local law enforcement, many in Minneapolis and Democrats in Washington, because of bystander videos that appear to show a different version of events.
Holding a phone, not a gun
Videos from the scene verified and reviewed by Reuters showed Pretti holding a phone in his hand, not a gun, as he tries to help other protesters who have been pushed to the ground by agents.
As the videos begin, Pretti can be seen filming as a federal agent pushes away one woman and shoves another woman to the ground. Pretti moves between the agent and the women, then raises his left arm to shield himself as the agent pepper-sprays him.
Several agents then take hold of Pretti — who struggles with them — and force him onto his hands and knees. As the agents pin down Pretti, someone shouts what sounds like a warning about the presence of a gun.
Video footage then appears to show one of the agents removing a gun from Pretti and stepping away from the group with it.
Moments later, an officer with a handgun pointed at Pretti’s back and fired four shots at him in quick succession. Several more shots can then be heard as another agent appears to fire at Pretti.
Barack Obama, Democrat senators condemn shooting
Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara told CBS that “the videos speak for themselves”, adding the Trump administration version of events was “deeply disturbing”.
He said he had seen no evidence that Pretti brandished a gun.
Tensions in the city were already running high after a federal agent fatally shot US citizen Renée Good on 7 January.
Trump officials claim she was trying to ram the agent with her car, but other observers have argued that bystander video suggests she was trying to steer away from the officer who shot her.
Federal authorities have refused to allow local officials to participate in their investigation of the incident.
Former Democratic US president Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama issued a statement saying many of America’s core values were under assault.
“The president and current administration officials seem eager to escalate the situation, while offering public explanations for the shootings of Mr Pretti and Renee Good that aren’t informed by any serious investigation — and that appear to be directly contradicted by video evidence,” they said.
“This has to stop.”
US senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, told the US’ ABC News that Trump’s surge of federal agents into Minneapolis was “completely out of control and out of balance”, and that they should leave Minnesota. She described the shooting of Pretti as “simply horrific”.
The deaths of Good and Pretti have sparked large protests in the Democrat-run city.
A woman wearing nursing scrubs ventured out in Sunday’s frigid temperatures to pay homage to Pretti, who she said worked with her. When asked what brought her out, the woman began to sob.
“He was caring and he was kind. None of this makes any sense,” said the woman, who asked not to be identified by name, saying she feared retribution from the federal government.
For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.
