A U.S. Border Patrol agent fatally shot an armed man in Minneapolis on Saturday who the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said looked like was about to “massacre law enforcement.”
The incident happened just 17 days after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed Renee Good, who had hit the agent with her vehicle, in the same city. DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement shared with the Daily Caller News Foundation that the most recent shooting occurred when agents were carrying out a “targeted operation” and it appeared the now-deceased man was about to inflict “maximum damage” against law enforcement officers.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said during a Saturday press conference that the deceased was a 37-year-old white male who lived in the city. He was later identified as Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen and an intensive care unit nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital, according to reports.
“At 9:05 AM CT, as DHS law enforcement officers were conducting a targeted operation in Minneapolis against an illegal alien wanted for violent assault, an individual approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun, seen here,” McLaughlin wrote in her statement.
DHS shared with the DCNF a photograph of a gun with two magazines. ICE and Border Patrol are both agencies of DHS.
At 9:05 AM CT, as DHS law enforcement officers were conducting a targeted operation in Minneapolis against an illegal alien wanted for violent assault, an individual approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun, seen here.
The officers attempted to… pic.twitter.com/5Y50mYONGH
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 24, 2026
“The officers attempted to disarm the suspect but the armed suspect violently resisted. More details on the armed struggle are forthcoming,” the assistant secretary continued. “Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots. Medics on scene immediately delivered medical aid to the subject but was pronounced dead at the scene.”
“The suspect also had 2 magazines and no ID—this looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement,” McLaughlin added. “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. This situation is evolving, and more information is forthcoming.”
“Border Patrol agents are trained extremely well to protect themselves, their fellow agents, and innocent third parties. When a supposed ‘peaceful’ protester brings a weapon (such as a loaded handgun) and brandishes it, there are going to severe consequences and repercussions,” the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC), a labor union that represents Border Patrol agents wrote in a Saturday afternoon X post in response to the shooting.
Border Patrol agents are trained extremely well to protect themselves, their fellow agents, and innocent third parties. When a supposed “peaceful” protester brings a weapon (such as a loaded handgun) and brandishes it, there are going to severe consequences and repercussions. We…
— Border Patrol Union – NBPC (@BPUnion) January 24, 2026
“We have pleaded with and warned the media and the politicians that their irresponsible, hate-filled and false rhetoric is going to get people unnecessarily hurt, or worse, killed when they portray our agents and officers as the aggressors,” the union’s post added. “They have encouraged these reckless confrontations and attacks on our agents and officers who are performing their lawful duties and enforcing the laws that Congress has put on the books.”
“The fake and dishonest media and the shameless politicians should be held accountable for willfully misleading the public and enticing these protesters and agitators. We have full confidence that when more facts are revealed, our agents and officers will be shown to have utilized justifiable force in eliminating the threat,” the NBPC’s post continued.
“I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning. Minnesota has had it. This is sickening,” Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz wrote in a post to X, shortly after reports of the shooting broke. “The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.”
When I visited Minnesota, what the ICE agents wanted more than anything was to work with local law enforcement so that situations on the ground didn’t get out of hand.
The local leadership in Minnesota has so far refused to answer those requests. pic.twitter.com/XUGIhXxUv7
— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 24, 2026
In a Saturday afternoon X post, Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar called the shooting, “Another murder by immigration enforcement in my district.”
Another murder by immigration enforcement in my district.
I am absolutely horrified that federal agents are targeting and executing our residents instead of protecting them.
ICE and CBP must leave Minnesota immediately. Kristi Noem must be impeached. Enough.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 24, 2026
“I am absolutely horrified that federal agents are targeting and executing our residents instead of protecting them,” the congresswoman, who represents the entirety of Minneapolis, claimed. “ICE and CBP [Customs and Border Protection] must leave Minnesota immediately. [DHS Secretary] Kristi Noem must be impeached. Enough.”
The City of Minneapolis referred the DCNF to the initial statement it had posted to X acknowledging it was “aware of reports of” a shooting, when asked for comment.
Editor’s note: This breaking news report was updated with additional details.
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