Federal Agent Shooting Sparks Protests And NBA Delay In Minneapolis

Minneapolis was thrust into the national spotlight once again on Saturday, January 24, 2026, after a 37-year-old man named Alex Pretti was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer during an immigration enforcement operation. The incident, which unfolded near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, marked the city’s second fatal shooting involving federal agents in just three weeks, and immediately sparked widespread protests, heated political exchanges, and even the postponement of a major basketball game.

According to the Associated Press, the Minnesota National Guard was activated by Governor Tim Walz to support local police as tensions rose in the city. Guard troops were dispatched both to the site of the shooting and to a federal building that had become a daily flashpoint for protesters and federal officials. Despite the biting cold—temperatures hovered at -6 degrees Celsius (21 degrees Fahrenheit)—hundreds of demonstrators poured onto the streets, refusing to be deterred by the Arctic blast or the heavy police and military presence.

Details about what led to the shooting remain limited. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse and Minneapolis resident, was the man killed. O’Hara said, “Information about what led up to the shooting is limited,” and declined to identify Pretti by name at first, though his parents later confirmed his identity to reporters. The police chief added that initial information indicated Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry, and that his only previous law enforcement encounters were traffic-related.

Federal authorities, meanwhile, offered their own account. Tricia McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, stated that federal officers were conducting an operation as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown. According to McLaughlin, Pretti approached the officers with a handgun and “violently resisted” when they attempted to disarm him. She said the agent fired “defensive shots” in response. The officer who fired the fatal shots is an eight-year veteran of the Border Patrol, described by Customs and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino as having “extensive training as a range safety officer and in using less-lethal force.”

However, bystander videos quickly surfaced, raising questions about the official version of events. According to WTIP, the footage shows Pretti on the ground, surrounded by at least four agents who appear to strike him with an object several times before an agent opens fire. The man remains motionless as more shots are heard, and at least one agent continues to fire in his direction. In the videos, Pretti is seen holding a phone, but no weapon is visible at any point. The confusion and lack of clarity only fueled the anger of protesters and the broader Minneapolis community.

The city’s leadership was quick to respond. Mayor Jacob Frey, at a press conference, called on President Donald Trump to withdraw federal troops from Minneapolis, blaming them for escalating violence and chaos. “If the goal was to achieve peace and safety, this is doing exactly the opposite,” Frey said, arguing that the removal of federal agents would help restore calm. Minneapolis Emergency Management Director Rachel Sayre also spoke out, warning about the heightened danger and long-term stress facing the city amid repeated violent incidents.

Governor Walz was blunt in his criticism of federal authorities. He announced that the state would lead the investigation into the shooting, citing a lack of confidence in federal officials. Walz also revealed that the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension had been blocked from accessing the shooting scene by federal officers, even after obtaining a judicial warrant. On social media, Walz urged President Trump to “end this operation” and demanded, “Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.”

President Trump, for his part, did not hold back. In a series of social media posts, he lashed out at Minnesota’s governor and Minneapolis mayor, sharing images of the gun that immigration officials claimed was recovered at the scene. “What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?” Trump wrote, accusing the Democratic governor and mayor of “inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric.”

Protests erupted almost immediately after the shooting, echoing the unrest that had gripped the Twin Cities since the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on January 7—just over a mile from the latest incident. Demonstrators gathered at the scene, some dragging garbage dumpsters into the street to block traffic, others chanting “ICE out now.” Angry crowds hurled profanities at federal officers, calling them “cowards” and demanding they leave Minneapolis. Federal officers responded by wielding batons and deploying flash bangs to disperse the crowd. At one point, an officer, as reported by the Associated Press, mockingly told protesters, “Boo hoo,” as he walked away.

The unrest rippled beyond the streets and into the city’s cultural life. The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Minnesota Timberwolves announced the postponement of a highly anticipated game against the Golden State Warriors, which had been scheduled to take place at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. According to the NBA and the Timberwolves, the decision to reschedule the game for Sunday, January 25, was made “to prioritise the safety and security of the Minneapolis community” in the wake of the shooting.

For many residents, the events of January 24 felt like a grim continuation of a pattern. The city has seen daily protests since the earlier ICE-related shooting, with tensions between federal authorities and local officials running high. The repeated use of force by federal agents, particularly during immigration enforcement actions, has drawn fierce criticism from local leaders and civil rights advocates. Minneapolis resident Josh Koskie, speaking to the Associated Press, summed up the frustration: “They’re killing my neighbors!”

As the investigation into Pretti’s death moves forward, calls for transparency and accountability are growing louder. Police Chief O’Hara has appealed for calm on all sides, insisting, “Our demand today is for those federal agencies that are operating in our city to do so with the same discipline, humanity and integrity that effective law enforcement in this country demands. We urge everyone to remain peaceful.”

With the city still reeling, Minneapolis faces difficult days ahead. The tension between local and federal authorities, the anger of residents, and the national spotlight all combine to create a volatile mix. For now, the streets remain cold, the crowds determined, and the questions—about use of force, accountability, and the future of immigration enforcement—unanswered.