Minneapolis Residents in Shock After Second Fatal Shooting by Federal Agents

Mon Jan 26 2026 13:24:23 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Minneapolis faces unrest as locals mourn the death of Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen killed by federal immigration agents, following a similar incident weeks prior. Community members gather to protest and seek refuge amidst escalating tensions over immigration policies.

The Minneapolis community is grappling with grief and anger after Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, was fatally shot by federal immigration agents. This incident marks the second such fatality in just a month in the city, sparking protests against the immigration enforcement operations led by ICE. Residents have turned to local churches for support as they mourn and demand accountability. The federal operation, backed by President Trump, has drawn both local condemnation and a complex national response about immigration enforcement policies.

At the Calvary Baptist Church in Minneapolis, the doors swung open and shut as locals sought refuge from the biting cold on Sunday.

The 140-year-old building sits just blocks away from where Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, was shot dead by federal immigration agents during a confrontation on Saturday morning.

In the wake of the shooting, which marked the second time in less than a month that a US citizen has been killed by agents in the city, the church has become what locals describe as a haven from the unrest and uncertainty outside.

There was no service here on Sunday. Instead, volunteers and church staff, such as Ann Hotz, who works at the church's daycare centre, handed out coffee, snacks, and hand warmers to those who stopped by.

Some were on their way to lay flowers at a nearby memorial for Pretti, while others visited on their way home from protests against the weeks-long federal immigration enforcement operation in the city.

Yesterday, I fell apart, Hotz told the BBC as she helped move cases of water outside. Today I'm here to stand with my community and help our neighbours as they remember Alex and mourn him.

Local church administrator Dean Caldwell-Tautges stated, This is what America is now, remarking on recent actions of federal immigration agents within the community.

The city of Minneapolis now finds itself at the center of the national immigration debate again following the deaths of Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, another Minnesota resident killed by an ICE agent earlier in January. Videos of both incidents ignited widespread protests, bringing attention to increased tensions surrounding immigration enforcement strategies.

President Trump had ordered the immigration agents to the city in December as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration. While the administration frames this operation as a public safety measure, many accuse ICE of using excessive force that endangers lives, including those of American citizens.

Governor Tim Walz has called for the immediate removal of federal agents from the state, pointing to the need for urgent change amidst rising fears for community safety.

As memorials for Alex Pretti grow, community members express exhaustion, frustration, and confusion over the recent events. Protests continue to flourish, illustrating a community demanding justice and a reevaluation of immigration practices that have resulted in fatalities and unrest.