Republicans join calls for independent probe of Minneapolis fatal shooting

Republicans have joined Democrats in calling for a full, urgent investigation into the fatal Minneapolis shooting of Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen who was shot after an encounter with U.S. Border Patrol agents during protests in the city. Video footage circulating online shows Pretti being sprayed with a substance and pinned to the ground; the Department of Homeland Security said Pretti had “approached U.S.

Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun,” while Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Pretti was believed to be a lawful gun owner with a permit. Some commentators, including White House adviser Stephen Miller, called Pretti a “would-be assassin,” though the videos do not show him holding the handgun during his interactions with federal agents.

President Trump told the Wall Street Journal he was reviewing the shooting and later announced he was sending border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota. Trump has also blamed Democratic leaders in Minnesota and suggested local police were prevented from acting; he linked the incident to an earlier fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent and said both deaths were the result of “Democrat ensued chaos,” according to his statements.

Several Republican senators and officials have broken with that rhetoric to demand transparent, independent reviews. Sen. Lisa Murkowski urged a “comprehensive, independent investigation” and congressional oversight; Sen.

Key Topics

Politics, Alex Pretti, Minneapolis Shooting, U.s. Border Patrol, Ice, Dhs