Minneapolis,  USA: A US Border Patrol officer has shot and killed a 37-year-old American citizen in Minneapolis, triggering mass protests, political fallout in Washington and renewed scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump.

The killing of Alex Jeffrey Pretti on Saturday is the second fatal shooting involving federal immigration officers in the city this month, intensifying public anger and raising the prospect of a US government shutdown.

Who was Alex Pretti?

Family members identified the man killed as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a US Department of Veterans Affairs hospital.

Pretti, a US citizen born in Illinois, had no criminal record and no prior encounters with law enforcement beyond traffic tickets, court records show. His family said he had never been arrested.

“He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset,” said his father, Michael Pretti.

“He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong, so he did participate in protests.”

Pretti had taken part in protests following the January 7 killing of Renee Good, another 37-year-old Minnesota resident shot dead by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.

What happened during the shooting?

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), federal officers were conducting an operation when Pretti approached them with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun.

A DHS spokesperson said officers fired “defensive shots” after the man “violently resisted” efforts to disarm him. Officials did not specify whether the gun was brandished.

Bystander videos reviewed by the Associated Press show Pretti holding a mobile phone, not a visible weapon.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said police believe Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti had attempted to “impede a law enforcement operation” and questioned why he was armed, without detailing whether he drew the weapon.

The Border Patrol officer involved is an eight-year veteran with extensive training, federal officials said.

Video evidence and crowd clashes

Footage shows officers shoving protesters on Nicollet Avenue before Pretti was restrained by several officers.

As officers attempted to pin him down, one officer repeatedly struck him with what appeared to be a canister. A gunshot is heard while officers surround him. More shots follow. Pretti is then seen lying motionless on the street.

An angry crowd later clashed with federal officers, who used batons and flash bangs. Protesters blocked roads with dumpsters and chanted “ICE out now”.

One officer was heard mocking protesters, saying: “Boo hoo.”

Protests, National Guard deployment and extreme cold

Hundreds of protesters gathered despite temperatures plunging to -6°C.

The Minnesota National Guard was deployed to assist police at the shooting site and a federal building where daily standoffs with protesters have taken place.

By nightfall, a quiet memorial formed near the scene, with signs reading “Justice for Alex Pretti”. Nearby shops remained open to offer warmth and supplies.

Family reaction and unanswered questions

Pretti’s parents, who live in Colorado, said they learned of their son’s death from an Associated Press reporter.

“I can’t get any information from anybody,” Michael Pretti said.

“The police, they said call Border Patrol, Border Patrol’s closed, the hospitals won’t answer any questions.”

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner later confirmed a body matching Pretti’s description. As of Saturday evening, the family said no federal agency had contacted them.

Personal life and background

Pretti grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he played football, baseball and ran track. He was a Boy Scout and sang in the Green Bay Boy Choir.

He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2011 and later retrained as a registered nurse. He lived alone in a condominium about two miles from where he was shot.

Neighbours described him as quiet, kind and helpful.

“He’s a wonderful person,” said neighbour Sue Gitar. “He has a great heart.”

Although Pretti owned firearms and had a permit to carry, neighbours said they had never known him to carry a handgun publicly.

Immigration protests and wider tensions

The shooting occurred as immigration protests intensified nationwide.

Earlier on Saturday, dozens of immigrant families protested inside a Texas detention centre, where a five-year-old Ecuadorian boy detained in Minnesota had been transferred with his father.

“The message we want to send is for them to treat us with dignity and according to the law,” said detainee Maria Alejandra Montoya Sanchez.

Political fallout and shutdown risk

In Washington, Democratic senators said they would oppose government funding bills that include full financing for DHS.

“I will not support the current Homeland Security funding bill,” said Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, citing the Minneapolis killing.

“This brutal crackdown has to end,” said Senator Mark Warner.

Funding expires on January 31, and Senate rules require 60 votes. With Democrats withdrawing support, the risk of another US government shutdown has increased.

President Donald Trump criticised Minnesota’s Democratic leadership on social media, accusing them of “inciting Insurrection”.