Second Fatal Federal Shooting in Minneapolis Ignites Protests and Legal Showdown
Hundreds of residents braved subzero temperatures on Saturday to mourn Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old nurse became the second U.S. citizen killed by federal agents in Minneapolis this month. The vigil on Nicollet Avenue quickly transformed into a rallying cry against the intensified federal enforcement presence known as Operation Metro Surge.
Federal Operation Escalates Tensions Across Twin Cities
This latest incident occurs amidst a volatile atmosphere created by Operation Metro Surge, a federal initiative that deployed approximately 3,000 agents to the Twin Cities area in December 2025. Local officials have characterized the deployment as a military occupation, state leaders argue the operation violates constitutional rights by overriding local governance. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a lawsuit to halt the surge, a court hearing scheduled for Monday could determine the future of federal authority in the region.
Video Evidence Contradicts Official Narrative of Shooting
Witnesses state that Pretti was filming federal agents on Saturday morning when he was pepper-sprayed and wrestled to the ground, bystander footage appears to show him holding a cellphone rather than the 9mm handgun claimed by the Department of Homeland Security. Reports indicate that agents fired ten shots while the victim was pinned to the sidewalk, this excessive force has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups. Pretti was a registered nurse at the local VA hospital, friends describe the avid outdoorsman as a peaceful citizen with no criminal record.
Pattern of Lethal Force Alarms Community
Pretti is not the first casualty of the current enforcement crackdown, his death follows the January 7 killing of Renee Good. The 37-year-old mother and poet was shot by ICE agents while driving her vehicle, the frequency of these lethal encounters has shattered trust between federal law enforcement and the local population.
Residents and Businesses Struggle Under Siege Atmosphere
The pervasive fear has forced many immigrant families into hiding, local labor unions have organized underground food distribution networks to support those afraid to leave their homes. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara noted that federal teams frequently deny local officers access to crime scenes, this jurisdictional friction creates dangerous gaps in public safety oversight. The ongoing unrest has disrupted commerce throughout the city, businesses on Eat Street face uncertain futures as protests intensify.
The city now looks toward the federal court hearing on Monday, a ruling against the state could embolden further federal interventions while a ruling for the state may ease the immediate tension.
