USA Anger and protest after deadly shooting in Minneapolis
After another fatal shooting during an operation by US federal officials in Minneapolis, anger is growing against US President Donald Trump and his rigorous deportation policy. The parents of the US citizen shot dead on the street accuse the officers of killing their son Alex Pretti for no legitimate reason.
25.01.2026, 15:58
SDA
The Department of Homeland Security, however, presents the case as self-defense - but videos from the scene fuel doubts about this. Meanwhile, there is growing criticism of the ICE immigration raids against migrants, which have repeatedly led to martial action against protesting civilians.
Even when 37-year-old US citizen Renée Good was shot dead in her car during an ICE operation in Minneapolis at the beginning of January, the government described the action as self-defense by an officer whose life was in acute danger. However, videos also paint a different picture in the case of Good.
Surviving relatives contradict the government
Pretti's parents emphasized that their son - a 37-year-old nurse - had not posed a threat to the officers when he was attacked by the masked officers on Saturday morning (local time).
"The heinous lies the government is spreading about our son are reprehensible and disgusting," the family said in a statement distributed by several US media outlets. "Alex is clearly not holding a gun when he is attacked by Trump's murderous and cowardly ICE thugs." He was merely trying to protect a woman brought to the ground by an officer while holding a cell phone and was sprayed with pepper spray before the shots were fired. The truth must be brought to light.
Surrounded by eight officers - then shots are fired
Several eyewitness videos of the incident in the street from different perspectives are circulating on the internet. One of them, which has been verified by the German Press Agency, shows several hooded men in riot gear forcibly bringing a person to the ground and attempting to restrain them. This is obviously Alex Pretti. In the end, he is surrounded by eight police officers.
Then shots are fired, according to the sound there are about ten. It is possible that different people are shooting, but it is not clear from the footage. Even when the man is lying motionless on the ground, at least one of the hooded men continues to shoot at him.
On the question of whether Pretti was armed, who according to police was authorized to carry a firearm, no clear statement can be made on the basis of the videos reviewed by dpa. In one of the videos circulating on social networks, it appears as if a pistol was taken from him by the officers - albeit before the first shots were fired, which would cast further doubt on the theory of the alleged acute danger to the lives of the emergency services.
Minister evades critical questions
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Pretti was armed. The federal officers were involved in an operation against a foreign national wanted for assault who was allegedly in the USA illegally when a person with a semi-automatic pistol approached. The ministry presented a photo of the suspected weapon - according to President Donald Trump, it was loaded.
The officers tried to disarm the person carrying the gun, but he resisted, according to the Department of Homeland Security. One of the security forces then fired the fatal shots. At a press conference, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem evaded questions about whether Pretti had even drawn the legal weapon and whether he had apparently been disarmed before the first shot was fired.
Instead, the Republican, whose party traditionally supports the free right to bear arms, raised the counter-question of why a protester would be carrying a gun at all. Trump's influential deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller even described Pretti - who had no criminal record - as a "domestic terrorist" after the bloody incident.
A judge issued a temporary restraining order on Sunday to protect the evidence. According to the court document, the federal authorities are prohibited from "destroying or altering" evidence in connection with the shooting involving federal officials. The Minnesota authorities had sued - they accuse the federal authorities of withholding evidence. A hearing is scheduled for this Monday at 2 p.m. (local time).
Democrats threaten to withdraw money
As the US government and its subordinate authorities under Trump regularly spread false allegations or at least present the truth selectively, many no longer believe their accounts. California Governor Gavin Newsom has called for Noem's resignation and the dismissal of Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino, who is responsible for implementing Trump's deportation policy. In addition, the Democrats in the US Senate are now threatening to block budget funds for the Homeland Security Department.
Following the fatal shooting of Pretti, there were renewed protests in Minneapolis against deportation raids and the suppression of peaceful resistance to them. In addition, dozens of people gathered with candles in a mixture of bewilderment, anger and grief for a vigil in front of the home of the deceased.
"Campaign of organized brutality against the population"
Minnesota's government and the city council of Minneapolis called on Trump to withdraw the forces tasked with implementing his radical deportation policy from the metropolis. Mayor Jacob Frey asked the state's National Guard for help because the police needed personnel support "due to the impairment of public safety by immigration officials".
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz - like Frey a Democrat - announced that the state would take the investigation into the fatal shooting into its own hands, as the Trump administration could not be trusted. According to media reports, the National Guard will also help.
"Minnesota's justice system will have the last word in this matter. They must have the final say," he said in a press conference. "This occupation of Minnesota by the federal government has long since ceased to have anything to do with enforcing immigration laws. It's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of our state."
