NBA Game Delayed After a Man Is Shot During a Clash with Federal Agents
The Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Golden State Warriors NBA game has been moved to January 25 after the US Department of Homeland Security confirmed that a federal officer shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Saturday, January 24.
Just after 3 pm GMT on January 24, federal agents shot a man in Minneapolis, the biggest city in Minnesota.
At a press conference, Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara said officers found a man with several gunshot wounds at the scene. Sadly, the man died. Based on limited information, they believe he was a 37-year-old US citizen living in Minneapolis.
The Associated Press later identified the man as Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse. Federal officials shared that the officer who fired the fatal shot had been with Border Patrol for eight years.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, explained that the federal officers fired “defensive shots” after a man with a handgun approached them and resisted when they tried to disarm him. She said, “Fearing for his life and the safety of other officers, an agent fired defensive shots.” Medical aid was given immediately, but the man died at the scene. McLaughlin also noted the man was carrying two magazines but had no ID.
After the shooting, hundreds of protesters took to the streets. This comes just weeks after an ICE agent fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, which also led to big protests. The latest shooting happened just over a mile away from where Good was shot.
At 8:15 pm, the NBA said the Warriors vs. Timberwolves game would be postponed to keep the community safe. They said, “The game scheduled for tonight at Target Center has been postponed to prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community. It will now be played tomorrow, January 25, at 5:30 p.m. ET at Target Center.” The Timberwolves confirmed this change too.
After the shooting, officials used tear gas to move back the crowds of protesters. Later that evening, people created a makeshift memorial near where the shooting happened.
US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance both responded to the shooting. Vance criticized local police on X (formerly Twitter) for not working with ICE, saying, “What the ICE agents wanted most was to work with local law enforcement so things wouldn’t get out of hand. But Minnesota’s local leaders have refused to cooperate.”
Trump shared a photo of a loaded gun on Truth Social, saying, “This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!) and ready to go – What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?”
Alex Pretti’s father, Michael, also spoke out. He said Alex had been involved in the protests after Good was killed by ICE three weeks ago. “He cared deeply about people and was very upset about what was happening in Minneapolis and across the country with ICE, just like many others,” Michael said. “Protesting was his way to show how much he cared.”
Michael added that he had warned Alex about the risks of protesting. “We talked about this a couple of weeks ago, telling him it’s okay to protest but to avoid any trouble. He understood that and knew what to do,” he said.