A federal agent shot and killed a man who allegedly brandished a gun at officers in Minneapolis Saturday as they attempted to arrest an illegal criminal migrant — sparking wild protests with hundreds of violent demonstrators flooding the streets in response.
The incident, which was captured in multiple videos, came during a “targeted operation” against an illegal immigrant, who Department of Homeland Security Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino later identified as Jose Huerta-Chuma.
Huerta-Chuma, whose record allegedly includes domestic assault, disorderly conduct, and driving without a valid license, was wanted for assault and was in the midst of being apprehended when “an individual approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun,” DHS said.
Videos taken by bystanders and posted to social media showed a man later identified as Minneapolis resident Alex Jeffrey Pretti, approaching the officers while holding what appeared to be his cell phone, recording them.
Clips of the ensuing scrum between Pretti and the officers do not clearly reveal a weapon, though authorities said Pretti had the gun along with two magazines of ammunition.
“The officers attempted to disarm the suspect but the armed suspect violently resisted,” DHS said. “Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots.”
Medics tended to Pretti, 37, whose family said worked as an intensive care nurse at the Department of Veterans Affairs, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to DHS.
In addition to the weapon Pretti lacked identification, according to the feds, who said “this looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.”
Enraged crowds emerged after the shooting, clashing with authorities who declared it an “unlawful assembly” and unleashed tear gas as demonstrators hurled trash cans at armored vehicles and hurled expletives.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the shooting of a 37-year-old anti-ICE protester in Minneapolis
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One officer was expected to lose his finger after being bitten by an unhinged demonstrator, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said on X, posting a photo of the bloody, severed digit.
“About 200 rioters arrived at the scene and began to obstruct and assault law enforcement on the scene, crowd control measures were deployed for the safety of the public and law enforcement.”
Asked about the claim Pretti had taken out his weapon, Bovino said,“This situation again is evolving. This situation is under investigation. Those facts will come to light” then showed a photo of a gun authorities said belonged to Pretti.
Bovino described the weapon as “possibly” a Sig Sauer 9-mm.
A 39-second clip shared to social media showed about half a dozen cops struggling with someone on the sidewalk in front of a donut shop at 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, when the gunfire erupted.
The officers appeared to scatter after the barrage of shots went off, according to the footage.
The shooting happened after Pretti allegedly brandished a firearm, a law enforcement source told The Post immediately after the incident, sharing the photo of the firearm.
President Trump lashed out at Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey after the shooting, accusing them of “inciting insurrection with their pompous, dangerous and arrogant rhetoric!”
In a Truth Social post, the president included a photo of the gun authorities said belonged to Pretti.
“This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go – What is that all about?” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?”The shooting prompted Walz to call in the National Guard to help security the federal Whipple Building, which has been used as a detention facility by immigration authorities.
It’s unclear how many Guard members are being called in, as National Guard Major Gen. Shawn Menke called the number “adequate for this request,” referring to a plea for assistance from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s office.
