The man who died after being shot by federal agents during an operation in Minneapolis (Minnesota) this Saturday was a 37-year-old resident of the city, and the Police confirmed that he was a U.S. citizen.
According to reports from the Minneapolis Police Chief, Brian O’Hara, during a press conference this Saturday, the case—occurring amidst federal operations related to immigration control in the city—ignited new protests and renewed calls from state authorities for Minnesota to lead the investigation.
O'Hara stated that the victim was a resident of Minneapolis and that the police "believe" he is a U.S. citizen.
The man shot dead has been identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, an intensive care nurse at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital, family members confirmed to The Associated Press.
In the same appearance, he added that preliminary information suggests that more than one federal agent was involved in the shooting and mentioned the existence of a public video in which several agents are seen grappling with an individual.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that the incident occurred around 9:05 a.m. during a federal operation, and that the man approached the officers with a firearm.
According to the federal version, while attempting to disarm him, a struggle ensued and an officer fired "in self-defense."
National media reported that the man was a legal gun owner and had permission to carry, although the full identification of the victim was not immediately disclosed in the consulted reports.
According to CNN, the White House senior advisor, Stephen Miller, claims, without evidence, that the American citizen who was shot dead was an “internal terrorist” who “attempted to assassinate a federal agent.”
However, an investigation has yet to be conducted, and the circumstances of the shooting remain unclear.
After the shooting, Governor Tim Walz activated the State Emergency Operations Center and publicly called for Minnesota to lead the investigation into the incident.
Walz said he informed the White House that the state must lead the process to ensure justice and called for calm.
The case prompted the arrival of protesters and new moments of tension in Minneapolis, a city that had already been experiencing protests due to previous incidents
Local authorities and news reports indicated clashes and the use of crowd control measures during the subsequent gatherings.
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