A federal agent shot and killed a man who allegedly brandished a gun at officers in Minneapolis on Saturday as they attempted to arrest an illegal criminal migrant — setting off violent protests as hundreds of enraged demonstrators flooded the streets.
The incident, captured in multiple videos, occurred during what officials described as a “targeted operation” against an illegal immigrant. Department of Homeland Security Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino later identified the suspect being arrested as Jose Huerta-Chuma.
Huerta-Chuma’s alleged criminal history includes domestic assault, disorderly conduct, and driving without a valid license. He was wanted for assault and was in the process of being apprehended when, according to DHS, “an individual approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun.”
Bystander videos posted to social media showed a man later identified as Minneapolis resident Alex Jeffrey Pretti approaching officers while appearing to record them on his cell phone. The footage does not clearly show a weapon, but authorities said Pretti was armed and carrying two magazines of ammunition.
“The officers attempted to disarm the suspect, but the armed suspect violently resisted,” DHS said in a statement. “Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots.”
Medics treated Pretti, 37, whose family said he worked as an intensive care nurse at the Department of Veterans Affairs, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to DHS.
Federal officials said Pretti did not have identification on him and added that “this looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.” That detail, unsurprisingly, has not made it into many protest signs.
Following the shooting, large and hostile crowds gathered, clashing with authorities who declared an “unlawful assembly” and deployed tear gas as demonstrators hurled trash cans at armored vehicles and screamed obscenities.
One officer was expected to lose his finger after being bitten by a violent demonstrator, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said on X, posting an image of the bloody injury. “About 200 rioters arrived at the scene and began to obstruct and assault law enforcement,” she wrote. “Crowd control measures were deployed for the safety of the public and law enforcement.”
Asked about claims that Pretti had drawn his weapon, Bovino said the situation remains under investigation and that the facts will come to light. He later displayed a photograph of a firearm authorities say belonged to Pretti, describing it as “possibly” a Sig Sauer 9 mm.
A 39-second clip circulating on social media shows roughly half a dozen officers struggling with someone on a sidewalk in front of a donut shop at 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue when gunfire erupted. Officers then appeared to scatter after shots were fired.
A law enforcement source told The Post that Pretti had brandished a firearm, sharing a photo of the weapon shortly after the incident.
President Donald Trump sharply criticized Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing them of “inciting insurrection with their pompous, dangerous and arrogant rhetoric.”
In a Truth Social post, Trump shared an image of the gun authorities say belonged to Pretti. “This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go – What is that all about?” he wrote. “Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?”
In response to the unrest, Walz ordered the National Guard to help secure the federal Whipple Building, which has been used as an immigration detention facility.
The number of Guard members being deployed has not been disclosed. National Guard Major Gen. Shawn Menke called the force “adequate for this request,” citing assistance requested by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.
Once again, a routine federal arrest turned into street warfare — not because of ICE, but because armed agitators and political leaders continue to treat law enforcement as the enemy and criminals as victims.
