Crime
Man killed by federal agents in Minneapolis identified as 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti
Federal agents fatally shot a man early Saturday morning in south Minneapolis, prompting confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement at the scene.
The incident marks the second fatal shooting involving federal agents in Minnesota amid an expanded immigration enforcement operation currently underway across the state.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the man was armed with a handgun and was carrying two loaded magazines at the time of the encounter.
DHS stated that an agent discharged his weapon in self-defense and later released a photograph of the firearm recovered at the scene.
Sources familiar with the investigation identified the man as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity, citing that they were not authorized to publicly disclose details of the case.
Pretti was listed as a resident of south Minneapolis.
Video circulating from the scene shows multiple federal agents restraining Pretti on the ground before shots were fired.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
During a news conference, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed the deceased was a 37-year-old white male with no significant criminal history. O’Hara stated that a review of law enforcement records revealed only minor infractions, such as parking violations. Additional law enforcement sources corroborated that Pretti had no serious criminal record.
Chief O’Hara further noted that Pretti was a lawful gun owner and possessed a valid permit to carry a firearm. State and educational records indicate that Pretti attended the University of Minnesota and was issued a Minnesota nursing license in 2021, which remains active through March 2026.
As the day progressed, the law enforcement presence in the area gradually decreased while the number of demonstrators increased. Protesters blocked the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, where the shooting occurred. Hundreds of people were seen marching along 26th Street, and several nearby restaurants opened their doors, offering coffee and shelter to protesters seeking warmth.
The shooting comes amid heightened political debate over federal immigration enforcement and funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier this week, most Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives voted against a Republican-led bill that would provide additional funding for DHS. The bill passed narrowly with support from seven Democrats and is scheduled for consideration in the U.S. Senate ahead of the January 30 funding deadline.
If Senate Democrats reject the measure, the move could trigger a partial federal government shutdown.
U.S. Representative Angie Craig publicly urged Senate Democrats to oppose the funding bill. In a statement posted on X, Craig wrote that Republicans cannot pass the measure without Democratic support and called for lawmakers to withhold funding from DHS, describing the agency as “lawless” and stating, “Enough is enough. Shut DHS down.”
The shooting remains under investigation. Federal authorities have not released the name of the agent involved, and no additional details regarding the circumstances leading up to the encounter have been made public.
A man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati, according to the Cincinnati Police Department.
Authorities identified the suspect as Jesse Wilson, 65, who has been charged with aggravated murder in the death of 36-year-old Jessica Hardy. Wilson was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center.
Police said officers were dispatched at approximately 6:35 a.m. on March 6 to the 700 block of Ridgeway Avenue after receiving reports of a shooting.
When officers arrived at the Avondale apartment building, they discovered Hardy suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency crews attempted lifesaving measures, but Hardy was pronounced dead at the scene, according to investigators.
The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office later confirmed her death and ruled the case an apparent homicide.
Detectives with the homicide unit launched an investigation shortly after the shooting, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses as they worked to determine the circumstances leading up to the deadly incident.
Wilson was subsequently identified as a suspect and arrested.
Authorities have not yet released additional details about what may have led to the shooting.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police have asked anyone with information related to the case to contact the homicide unit.