On Saturday, January 24, 2026, Minneapolis experienced a dramatic turn of events on its renowned "Eat Street," known for its diverse array of small coffee shops and restaurants. The day began with a frigid calm but quickly devolved into chaos following a federal immigration officer's shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti. This incident reignited tensions in a city already on edge from previous protests related to immigration enforcement.
The shooting occurred around 9 a.m., approximately 1.5 miles from where a local woman was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer earlier in January. This earlier incident had already spurred daily protests, reflecting community outrage surrounding immigration enforcement in Minnesota. On Saturday, less than an hour after the shooting, a crowd gathered, expressing their anger and frustration toward federal agents present at the scene.
As the situation escalated, protesters quickly took control of the area, confronting federal agents by blowing whistles and chanting slogans against ICE. According to reports from Associated Press journalists who arrived shortly after the incident, the atmosphere was charged with urgency and intensity, as the crowd swelled to hundreds of demonstrators. The protests turned violent, with clashes between federal officers and protesters, which included the use of tear gas in the subzero temperatures.
Throughout the afternoon, confrontations continued, with officers attempting to push back the demonstrators using flash bang grenades and pepper balls. Despite these efforts, protesters regrouped and maintained their presence at the site of the shooting. By mid-afternoon, the intersection adjacent to the shooting scene was cordoned off with yellow police tape and filled with makeshift memorials for Pretti. Many attendees brought flowers and candles, creating an emotional tribute to the man fatally shot earlier that day.
Protesters expressed their demands for ICE to vacate Minnesota immediately, echoing sentiments that had gained traction across the Twin Cities in the past weeks. The overall mood reflected a blend of profound anger and sorrow, reminiscent of the community's reaction following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, though Saturday's protests did not escalate into widespread rioting. Law enforcement officials maintained a perimeter around the incident site, though the immediate area lacked visible police presence, as multiple agencies had been deployed to monitor the situation.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara held a news conference in the afternoon to address the situation, stating that officers and members of the Minnesota National Guard were focused on ensuring the area remained safe for lawful and peaceful demonstrations. Traffic restrictions were in place to minimize disruption around the scene, prompting stores and businesses in the vicinity to close for safety or offer support to the protesters, such as providing water and warmth from the cold.
As night fell, a somber crowd gathered at the memorial for Alex Pretti, continuing the vigil and sharing their grief. The events of the day left many, including protester Caleb Spike, pondering the ongoing battle against immigration enforcement and the uncertainty of what might come next in Minneapolis and beyond.
