Movies contradict federal account of deadly Minneapolis taking pictures : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6720x4480+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F34%2Ff2%2F68ab21154bafae17568031df565b%2Fvigil-115-2.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6720x4480+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F34%2Ff2%2F68ab21154bafae17568031df565b%2Fvigil-115-2.jpg" class="img" alt="A sign for Alex Pretti, who was killed earlier in the day by a U.S. Border Patrol officer, is displayed during a vigil Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Minneapolis. Zaydee Sanchez for NPR" fetchpriority="high"/> An indication for Alex Pretti, who was killed earlier within the day by a U.S. Border Patrol officer, is displayed throughout a vigil Saturday in Minneapolis. Zaydee Sanchez for NPR disguise caption

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Zaydee Sanchez for NPR Minnesota officers are pushing to make sure they will help examine the stunning deadly taking pictures of 37-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti. After a late night time courtroom submitting a federal choose granted them a brief restraining order, ruling that no Homeland Safety officer can destroy or alter proof associated to the demise Saturday morning. Federal investigators have refused to permit entry to the scene, regardless of the state acquiring a search warrant for public areas.

It is the second deadly taking pictures in Minneapolis by immigration brokers this month, and as soon as once more Trump administration officers instantly defended the motion as self-defense whereas blaming the sufferer — on this case claiming he was a "home terrorist" aspiring to "bloodbath" officers.

A number of bystander movies and witness testimony contradict that. Pretti could be seen holding solely a cellphone in his hand earlier than not less than six officers sort out him, pinning him face down on the bottom and taking pictures him within the again, firing what feels like 10 pictures. One eyewitness mentioned in a courtroom doc that Pretti was not even dealing with brokers once they grabbed him. "It did not appear like he was making an attempt to withstand, simply making an attempt to assist [a] girl up," they wrote.

Pretti was a U.S. citizen with no recognized legal report. DHS says he was armed, and the town's police chief confirmed he had a lawful allow to hold. There was no proof that NPR has verified of Pretti brandishing his handgun at any time in the course of the encounter with federal brokers. One video seems to indicate an officer take away his gun simply earlier than one other shoots him.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6309x4206+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2F26%2F0d7b355a495891aab4bd435fcc0b%2Fshooting-119.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6309x4206+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2F26%2F0d7b355a495891aab4bd435fcc0b%2Fshooting-119.jpg" class="img" alt="The area where a federal agent killed a man in Minneapolis on Saturday is taped off. Jan. 24, 2026. Zaydee Sanchez for NPR" loading="lazy"/> The world the place a federal agent killed a person in Minneapolis on Saturday was taped off. ZAYDEE SANCHEZ disguise caption

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ZAYDEE SANCHEZ Deputy U.S. Lawyer Basic Todd Blanche stood by the brokers in an interview on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday. "This was an extremely split-second determination that needed to be made by ICE officers confronting a really sophisticated, violent scenario," he mentioned, including that Pretti was "interrupting an ICE operation."

Gregory Bovino, the immigration official commanding the operation in Minneapolis advised CNN on Sunday that "the victims are the Border Patrol brokers. The suspect put himself in that scenario."

"As soon as once more DHS has come out with a predetermined narrative that contradicts all the pieces we noticed with our personal eyes," mentioned Minn. U.S. Consultant Kelly Morrison, a Democrat. "Two 37-year-old Minnesotans are actually useless, a poet and a nurse, for what?"

There are considerations over the integrity of the taking pictures investigation Gov. Tim Walz advised reporters Saturday that the federal authorities can't be trusted with this investigation.

"We proceed to listen to, and we heard it from the vice chairman, that these people can do no matter they need. They'll have full immunity. And what I am telling you is they won't. There will probably be justice to Minnesotans," he mentioned.

The Minnesota Bureau of Legal Apprehension mentioned DHS has blocked its investigators from the scene. Earlier this month, the Trump administration additionally mentioned it is not going to examine the agent who shot and killed Renee Macklin Good as she was turning her automotive to drive away. Walz mentioned the state is making a log of proof for attainable future prosecution of immigration brokers. In a rare transfer the Minnesota Division of Corrections has additionally created a web site to fight what it says are repeated false claims by DHS that it doesn't cooperate on federal immigration enforcement.

In a uncommon break with Trump by a Republican, U.S. Sen. Invoice Cassidy of Louisiana known as for a joint federal and state investigation. "The occasions in Minneapolis are extremely disturbing. The credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake," he wrote in a publish on X."

The Minnesota Gun House owners Caucus, a pro-Second Modification group, additionally known as for a "full and clear" investigation.

"Your youngsters will ask you what facet you have been on" In Minneapolis on Saturday night time, on road corners all around the metropolis, neighbors got here outdoors within the subzero temperatures to mourn and attempt to course of this newest killing of a bystander. Small teams gathered on snowbanks, holding candles, singing, and worriedly speaking with neighbors.

"It may be you! It may be anybody strolling previous this road proper now, and that is what's so sickening and so highly effective that individuals are out right here," mentioned Tourmu Diggs, a Minneapolis resident who attended a big vigil in Whittier Park, just a few blocks from the place Pretti was shot useless just a few hours earlier.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5855x3903+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2F5d%2F104e142448f5a78d772e5539c857%2Fvigil-116-1.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5855x3903+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2F5d%2F104e142448f5a78d772e5539c857%2Fvigil-116-1.jpg" class="img" alt="People gather during a vigil for 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by a federal Border Patrol agent earlier in the day during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Zaydee Sanchez for NPR" loading="lazy"/> Individuals collect Saturday throughout a vigil for 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by a federal Border Patrol agent earlier within the day throughout an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Zaydee Sanchez for NPR disguise caption

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Zaydee Sanchez for NPR <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F54%2F76%2Fa5a827494cd489da4971c33249d1%2Fvigil-102-3.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F54%2F76%2Fa5a827494cd489da4971c33249d1%2Fvigil-102-3.jpg" class="img" alt="Minneapolis residents and protesters march through the streets during a vigil for Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by a federal agent during an immigration enforcement operation. Jan. 24, 2026. Zaydee Sanchez for NPR" loading="lazy"/> Minneapolis residents and protesters march by means of the streets throughout a vigil for Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by a federal agent throughout an immigration enforcement operation. Zaydee Sanchez disguise caption

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Zaydee Sanchez Most of the vigil attendees advised NPR that they need peace however worry that they might be working out of political, authorized and peaceable means to take away federal immigration brokers from the town.

"We simply had one of many largest protests ever yesterday, and right here they're killing one other individual," mentioned Minneapolis resident Nick, referring to an enormous demonstration in downtown Minneapolis on Friday. Like many NPR spoke with, he declined to provide his full identify out of worry of doxxing and retaliation from the federal authorities.

Amid mounting anger and extra protests anticipated, Minnesota activated the Nationwide Guard to assist overstretched native police preserve public security. It says members will put on neon reflective vests to tell apart them from different companies in comparable uniforms.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey mentioned the weeks-long surge of federal officers quantities to an invasion of the town. "The masked militarized power and unidentified brokers patrolling our streets, that's what erodes belief in each legislation enforcement and in democracy itself," he mentioned.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2667+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcc%2Faa%2F07fcc54b4463a97a55887cc8c548%2Fnpr-trieb-ice-20260123-1.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2667+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcc%2Faa%2F07fcc54b4463a97a55887cc8c548%2Fnpr-trieb-ice-20260123-1.jpg" class="img" alt="Thousands gather downtown in sub-zero temperatures as hundreds of Minnesota businesses close in a statewide “ICE Out” protest and strike against federal immigration enforcement and the expanded ICE operations in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Jan. 23, 2026." loading="lazy"/> 1000's gathered downtown in subzero temperatures Friday as a whole bunch of Minnesota companies closed in a statewide "ICE Out" protest and strike towards federal immigration enforcement and the expanded ICE operations in Minneapolis. Erin Trieb for NPR disguise caption

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Erin Trieb for NPR He urged residents to remain calm however proceed talking out. "Get up for America. Acknowledge that your youngsters will ask you what facet you have been on. Your grandchildren will ask you what you probably did to behave to stop this from occurring once more," Frey mentioned.

A former Trump administration DHS basic counsel known as for the president's impeachment. "I'm enraged and embarrassed by DHS's lawlessness, fascism, and cruelty," John Mitnick wrote in a publish on X.

Anger was already rising over federal brokers' aggressive method The Trump administration has portrayed its mission in Minnesota as a crackdown on legal, undocumented immigrants, and has despatched a power of some 3,000 brokers — 5 occasions bigger than the Minneapolis police power. Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs for Homeland Safety Tricia McLaughlin has advised NPR that the company is "delivering on the American folks's mandate to deport unlawful aliens."

However residents say federal brokers are sweeping up authorized residents and even U.S. residents in an arrest-first, ask-questions-later method And policing and immigration specialists say DHS brokers are pushing the bounds of their energy, inflicting confusion for individuals who wish to safely categorical their opposition.

Earlier than the most recent deadly taking pictures, NPR reporters on the bottom in Minneapolis have witnessed federal brokers pulling folks off the streets and out of their automobiles or questioning folks of coloration on their immigration standing. These arrested embrace a 5-year-old boy now in detention along with his father in Texas. Brokers additionally dragged an older Hmong man into his entrance yard, sporting solely his underwear in subzero chilly, despite the fact that he is been a U.S. citizen for many years. The household advised The Related Press that brokers barged into the house and arrested the person with weapons drawn regardless of not having a warrant.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2667+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff4%2Fda%2Fdb8bab9643ff996578fb8fee7047%2Fnpr-trieb-iceprotests-20260124-73.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2667+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff4%2Fda%2Fdb8bab9643ff996578fb8fee7047%2Fnpr-trieb-iceprotests-20260124-73.jpg" class="img" alt="ICE and federal agents face off with Minneapolis residents and protesters following the fatal shooting of a local resident earlier in the day near Nicollet Avenue and West 26th Street in south Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jan. 24, 2026. " loading="lazy"/> ICE and federal brokers face off with Minneapolis residents and protesters following the deadly taking pictures of a neighborhood resident earlier within the day close to Nicollet Avenue and West twenty sixth Avenue in south Minneapolis. Photographed by Erin Trieb for NPR. Photographed by Erin Trieb for NPR. disguise caption

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Photographed by Erin Trieb for NPR. <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2667+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2Fb7%2F64e0e4f34ab68cf342727e2b8720%2Fnpr-trieb-iceprotests-20260124-27.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2667+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2Fb7%2F64e0e4f34ab68cf342727e2b8720%2Fnpr-trieb-iceprotests-20260124-27.jpg" class="img" alt="ICE and federal agents face off with Minneapolis residents and protesters following the fatal shooting of a local resident earlier in the day near Nicollet Avenue and West 26th Street in south Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jan. 24, 2026. Photographed by Erin Trieb for NPR." loading="lazy"/> ICE and federal brokers face off with Minneapolis residents and protesters following the deadly taking pictures of a neighborhood resident earlier within the day in south Minneapolis. Erin Trieb for NPR disguise caption

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Erin Trieb for NPR Such actions, and now Pretti's killing, have escalated anger and frustration amongst residents like Linda Gotlieb. The well being care employee joined the group of protesters on the website of the most recent taking pictures, standing toes from a row of native police in full face masks and riot gear.

"They're making an attempt to have the narrative be that the individuals are the aggressors," she advised NPR. "However we have now seen on video and we have heard folks testify to the truth that, no, they're being illegally detained and assaulted and sustaining accidents. And that is completely counter to all the pieces our nation stands for."

Requested about such considerations, Deputy Lawyer Basic Blanche Sunday advised CNN it isn't truthful to level to a couple incidents out of hundreds of arrests. "Our brokers are appearing humanely," he mentioned. "Their jobs are very, very tough."