Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche publicly distanced himself from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s characterization of the weekend shooting death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis.
Why it matters
Pretti is the second American citizen to be killed by federal agents in Minneapolis during President Donald Trump’s expanded immigration enforcement push in the city. The shooting has intensified scrutiny of federal tactics, following the earlier fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in January.
Federal officials have said Pretti “approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun.” But videos verified by multiple news outlets show Pretti holding a phone in his right hand and appearing to have nothing in his left hand in the moments before he was shot, raising questions about the government’s initial account.
Authorities and local reporting also indicate Pretti was legally conceal-carrying at the time and had no serious criminal history on record.
What to know
Blanche addressed the case on Fox & Friends, declining to endorse the Department of Homeland Security’s suggestion that Pretti’s actions amounted to domestic terrorism. Instead, he emphasized that the incident is still under investigation and said he did not want to prejudge what happened.
“I don’t think anybody thinks that they were comparing what happened on Saturday to the legal definition of domestic terrorism,” Blanche said on Fox News. “What we saw was a very violent altercation, and I’m not going to prejudge the facts.”
Blanche also said investigators have not yet reviewed all available footage.
“There is a bunch of video we haven’t seen yet,” he added, referring to the minutes before and after the shooting.
“I’m not describing it as anything except for a tragedy,” Blanche said.
Noem, by contrast, argued Saturday that violence against the government for ideological reasons fits the definition of domestic terrorism.
“Violence against a government because of ideological reasons and for reasons to resist and to perpetuate violence. That is the definition of domestic terrorism,” she said at a press conference.
President Trump said his administration is “reviewing everything” related to the shooting as criticism grew from Minnesota officials who have accused the federal government of escalating tensions in the city.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz warned that the incident could inflame unrest and urged federal officials to de-escalate, calling on the president to remove “the 3,000 agents from Minnesota who are sowing chaos and violence.”
Pretti’s parents issued a joint statement condemning what they called administration “lies,” describing them as “reprehensible and disgusting,” and disputing the claim that their son was holding a gun when he was shot.
A DHS spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, previously said the department viewed the incident as a case where an individual intended “to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.”
What people are saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday: “I am sending [border czar] Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight. He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me. Separately, a major investigation is going on with respect to the massive 20 Billion Dollar, Plus, Welfare Fraud that has taken place in Minnesota, and is at least partially responsible for the violent organized protests going on in the streets.
“Additionally, the DOJ and Congress are looking at ‘Congresswoman’ Ilhan Omar, who left Somalia with NOTHING, and is now reportedly worth more than 44 Million Dollars. Time will tell all. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, wrote on X: “This appears to be an execution by immigration enforcement. I am absolutely heartbroken, horrified, and appalled that federal agents murdered another member of our community. It is beyond shameful these federal agents are targeting our residents instead of protecting them.”
National Nurses United said it was “horrified and outraged,” calling Pretti’s death an “execution” and demanding “justice and accountability.”
The National Association for Gun Rights pushed back on claims implying wrongdoing based on spare ammunition, arguing that carrying an extra magazine is common among lawful gun owners and warning against setting a precedent that could be used to justify magazine restrictions.
What happens next
The shooting remains under investigation. Noem said Sunday her office would lead the federal investigation. Minnesota officials have said the state will also conduct its own investigation, and Walz has argued the state should take the lead.
“Let state investigators secure justice. As we process the scene, stay peaceful and give them space. The State has the personnel to keep people safe – federal agents must not obstruct our ability to do so,” he said.
