A U.S. Border Patrol agent’s fatal shooting of an anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protester sparked massive protests and demonstrations in Minneapolis on Saturday.
On Saturday, Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino announced that an individual, later identified as 37-year-old Alex Pretti, approached U.S. Border Patrols while armed with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun as Department of Homeland Security officials were conducting a “targeted operation” against an illegal immigrant with an extensive criminal history.
“The agents attempted to disarm the individual, but he violently resisted,” Bovino told reporters. “Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, a Border Patrol agent fired defensive shots.”
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The Border Patrol commander confirmed that Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting. A video of the incident shows Border Patrol agents attempting to disarm the anti-ICE protester. Toward the end of the video, multiple shots can be heard as one of the agents fired at Pretti.
In the aftermath of Border Patrol’s fatal shooting on Saturday, Daily Caller reporter Jorge Ventura shared a video of anti-ICE protesters swarming and blocking a green armored vehicle in Minneapolis. In the video, protesters were heard shouting, “F-ck ICE,” while others carried an upside-down American flag and signs with messages such as “ICE Out Now.” Ventura noted that the anti-ICE protesters also threw objects at the armored vehicle.
In another video, Ventura explained that the crowd of anti-ICE protesters in Minneapolis was continuing to grow “larger.” The reporter warned that “tensions” were “rising” and that law enforcement officials were deploying gas in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
In Saturday’s video, the large crowd of anti-ICE protesters can be heard shouting at federal law enforcement officials before repeatedly chanting, “F-ck ICE.” The video also shows a protester with a sign calling for the arrest of Jonathan Ross, the ICE officer who fatally shot Renee Good earlier this month after the 37-year-old anti-ICE activist weaponized her vehicle and attempted to run over federal law enforcement officials.