Overview
- Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara identified the deceased as 37-year-old city resident Alex Jeffrey Pretti and said he had a permit to carry and prior police contact limited to traffic tickets.
- DHS said the man approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm handgun, violently resisted disarmament, and was shot by an agent who feared for officers’ safety before medics pronounced him dead at the scene.
- In its statement, DHS characterized the individual as posing a grave threat, including the claim he “wanted to…massacre law enforcement,” with further details of the struggle promised.
- O’Hara said available information shows Pretti was legally permitted to carry, noted Minnesota allows lawful carry at protests, and indicated he was not a prohibited person under state rules.
- O’Hara warned public anger is surging after three shootings in under three weeks and said a stretched force of roughly 600 officers recovered about 900 guns last year as investigations into this incident continue.