US citizen fatally shot by Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis identified
The man fatally shot by a Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis has been identified as Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen and intensive care unit nurse.
Stars are speaking out about the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Olivia Rodrigo, Jamie Lee Curtis and more celebrities made their voices heard on social media in reaction to video showing Pretti, a Veterans Affairs ICU nurse, being shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent on Jan. 24.
Rodrigo shared a post on her Instagram Story that said there is a “murderous federal agency terrorizing an American city.” The singer also wrote, “ICEs actions are unconscionable but we are not powerless. Our actions matter. I stand with Minnesota.”
Pretti’s killing has sparked outrage and protests in Minnesota, which has already been on edge since 37-year-old Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent earlier this month. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said law enforcement in the state is carrying out a “full, impartial, and transparent” investigation into Pretti’s death.
On Instagram, Curtis shared artwork paying tribute to both Pretti and Good, writing, “THESE WERE AMERICANS! SHOT BY OUR GOVERNMENT!” The “Halloween” star also posted video of Pretti’s shooting as an Instagram Story along with the text, “There’s too much going on that needs to be amplified right now for me to be quiet.”
Mark Ruffalo posted on Bluesky that the video of Pretti’s fatal shooting showed a “cold blooded murder in the streets of the USA by an occupying military gang, creating havoc.” He added, “We have fought wars in other countries for less than this.”
Pedro Pascal shared numerous posts that were critical of ICE and federal officials’ account of the shooting on his Instagram Stories, including one by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who said ICE “terrorizes our cities” and should be abolished.
Several stars, including Janelle Monae and Megan Stalter, provided followers with instructions on how they can call their representatives and urge them to defund ICE. “Keep talking, sharing, praying,” Stalter wrote. “I put all my trust in God and what is going on is pure evil.”
“Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda also shared a post by the National Immigration Law Center, which read, “ICE GET OUT.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters that Pretti “came with weapons and ammunition to stop a law enforcement operation of federal law enforcement officers” and aimed to “inflict maximum damage and kill law enforcement.” But Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz vowed that “Minnesota’s justice system will have the last word on this.” In a sworn declaration, filed in federal court hours after the shooting in connection with an ACLU class action lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, a witness to the shooting said he did not see Pretti “attack the agents or brandish a weapon of any kind.”
Pretti’s killing occurred as Sundance Film Festival is underway in Utah, and some celebrities spoke out against ICE while promoting their films there.
In an interview with Variety at Sundance, Natalie Portman, who wore “ICE Out” and “Be Good” pins, said, “We’re at a moment in our country’s history that is quite devastating, and I think it’s really impossible not to talk about what is happening right now and the brutality of ICE and how it has to stop immediately.”
Olivia Wilde also wore an “ICE Out” pin at the film festival, where she told Variety, “I’m appalled and sickened. We can’t go another day just sort of accepting this as our new norm. It’s outrageous. People are being murdered. And I don’t want to normalize seeing people being murdered on the internet, on film. It’s hideous.”
Contributing: Michael Loria, N’dea Yancey-Bragg and Kathryn Palmer
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.usatoday.com ’
