NRA Urges Full Investigation into the Killing of Alex Pretti

The National Rifle Association is urging a "full investigation" into the killing of Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis. Alex Pretti, 37, was killed after being repeatedly shot by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis Saturday morning. He had been taken to the ground, was face down on the street and being detained by several agents when he was shot. Minneapolis police confirmed that Alex Pretti was legally permitted to carry a firearm, but bystander video footage shows him holding only a cell phone in the moments before he was confronted by federal agents and does not show him raising or aiming a weapon at any officer. Agents pulled a handgun from Pretti’s waistband and then, seconds later, multiple shots were fired while he was already on the ground. Pretti was shot and killed despite being restrained. The NRA shared a statement on Saturday in the hours after the killing, urging patience as the investigation unfolds and more details become available. Later on Saturday, the organization spoke publicly about the shooting again – this time in response to the seeming suggestion from a U.S. attorney under the Trump administration that the border patrol agent’s shooting of Pretti could be likely justified since Pretti was carrying a gun. "If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you," Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, wrote on X, in response to DHS’s initial statement on the shooting, which claimed Pretti approached officers with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun despite video evidence and witness testimony that Pretti did not appear to aim or raise his weapon at officers at any point. The NRA responded: "This sentiment from the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California is dangerous and wrong. Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens. A growing number of Republicans are pressing for a deeper investigation into federal immigration tactics in Minnesota, and Democrats are vowing to oppose the homeland security funding bill that is making its way through the Senate this week.