Federal brokers cordon off the realm as individuals collect on the scene of a capturing involving federal immigration brokers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 24, 2026.
Tim Evans Reuter
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Saturday referred to as on President Donald Trump to halt large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations within the state after the second mass capturing by federal brokers this month in Minneapolis.
In a publish on
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara mentioned at a information convention Saturday afternoon that authorities have recognized the sufferer as a 37-year-old white man from Minneapolis, including that the person has no recognized legal historical past apart from site visitors enforcement. The person was later recognized by his dad and mom and the Related Press as ICU nurse Alex Pretti.
“The one interplay we’re conscious of with legislation enforcement is relating to a site visitors ticket, and we consider he’s a authorized gun proprietor with a allow,” O’Hara mentioned, including that the small print of the encounter are nonetheless underneath investigation.
O’Hara mentioned the division has been in touch with the Division of Homeland Safety, however didn’t present particular particulars in regards to the incident itself.
The capturing escalated a tense standoff between Minnesota authorities and federal immigration officers that had been happening for weeks. Earlier this month, ICE brokers shot and killed 37-year-old Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good throughout a raid. This sparked widespread protests and fueled a political backlash towards the federal investigation.
“At 9:05 a.m. CT, DHS legislation enforcement officers had been conducting a focused operation towards an unlawful alien needed on suspicion of violent assault in Minneapolis,” a DHS spokesperson mentioned in an announcement on X. “As seen right here, a person approached a U.S. Border Patrol agent with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun.”
A handgun that the Division of Homeland Safety mentioned was recovered from a person who was shot throughout his arrest is seen on this handout photograph launched on January 24, 2026, in what’s believed to be Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Homeland Safety by way of X | by way of Reuters
Federal brokers tried to disarm the suspect, however he resisted violently, the Division of Homeland Safety mentioned. “Additional particulars relating to the armed battle can be launched in the end.”
The ministry mentioned about 200 protesters arrived on the scene and “crowd management measures had been put in place to make sure the protection of the general public and legislation enforcement.”
Customs and Border Safety Commissioner Greg Bovino mentioned at a information convention Saturday afternoon that the federal officer concerned within the capturing has been with the company for eight years.
A cloud of tear fuel clashes between federal brokers and native residents on the scene of a capturing involving federal immigration brokers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 24, 2026.
Tim Evans Reuter
President Trump responded to the shootings in a publish on Fact Social, defending the federal authorities’s operations and condemning criticism of Trump’s surge in immigration enforcement.
“That is the perpetrator’s gun, loaded (plus two full magazines!) and able to go. What the heck is that this? The place are the native police? Why weren’t the police allowed to guard the ICE officers?” he wrote. “Did the mayor and governor name them out? We’re advised that most of the police weren’t licensed to do their jobs and ICE needed to defend themselves. That is not straightforward!”
At a press convention Saturday night time, Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem described Preti as a person intent on violence towards federal officers, saying, “This seems to be a state of affairs the place a person arrives on the scene to inflict most hurt on the person and kill legislation enforcement.”
Requested if the 37-year-old had ever pointed a gun at a federal officer, Noem dodged the query and requested why people would deliver weapons to protests.
However regardless of Noem’s claims, movies posted on social media by bystanders and observers of the capturing scene seem to inform a special story. In a single video obtained by The Related Press, protesters could be heard blowing whistles and shouting profanities at brokers on Nicollet Avenue.
The video reveals an officer shoving an individual carrying a brown jacket, skirt and black tights and holding a water bottle. The particular person reaches out to the person and the 2 embrace. The person, carrying a brown jacket and black hat, seemed to be holding up a cellphone on the police officer.
The identical officer stabbed the person within the chest, and the 2, nonetheless hugging one another, backed away.
The video then strikes to a different a part of the road after which returns to the 2 individuals unlinking one another. The video adjustments focus once more and reveals three officers surrounding the person.
Quickly, at the least seven cops encompass the person. One particular person was on the person’s again, and the opposite, who appeared to have a can in his hand, punched him within the chest. As the person seems to withstand, a number of cops attempt to put his arms behind his again. As they pull his arm, his face seems briefly on digital camera. The officer struck the person holding the canister a number of instances within the head space.
Photographs rang out, but it surely was unclear the place the photographs got here from as police surrounded the person. A number of officers backed away from the person after the photographs had been fired. Extra gunshots are heard. The officers backed away and the person lay immobile on the street.
One other video seen by CNBC seems to indicate federal brokers disarming a person on the bottom earlier than opening fireplace.
Two individuals advised MS Now that DHS, not the FBI, will examine the capturing.
In response to a request from Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt, Walz agreed to activate the Minnesota Nationwide Guard on Saturday afternoon to help first responders.
“The Minnesota Nationwide Guard’s position is to assist native legislation enforcement and emergency response forces and supply further sources. Their presence is meant to create a protected atmosphere by which all Minnesotans can safely train their rights, together with the best to peacefully protest,” the sheriff’s workplace mentioned in an announcement.
Minneapolis officers urged individuals to keep away from the realm and stay calm as native legislation enforcement and State Patrol arrived to separate protesters and ICE brokers, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) joined the governor’s name to finish ICE operations in Minnesota.
“The world is watching. 1000’s of residents stopped and harassed. Native police cannot do their jobs anymore. Youngsters are in hiding. Colleges are closed. Let’s get ICE out of Minnesota now,” she mentioned in an X publish.
However Trump administration officers blamed the gunman for the capturing.
White Home Deputy Chief of Workers Stephen Miller referred to as Pretti a “home terrorist” and claimed he had “tried to assassinate federal legislation enforcement.”
—CNBC’s Terry Cullen and The Related Press contributed to this report.
This story is growing. Please refresh to examine for updates.
