The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and officials in Minnesota have provided conflicting information regarding the shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who died last Saturday.
Almost immediately after the initial shooting reports, a DHS officer stated the victim "was armed with a handgun and two magazines." Shortly thereafter, the department announced that federal agents shot Pretti in self-defense, claiming the armed suspect violently resisted attempts to be disarmed.
DHS said officers were conducting an operation to detain an undocumented immigrant who "was wanted for a violent assault charge" when "an individual approached U.S. Border Patrol agents carrying a 9mm semi-automatic handgun."
The statement continued, "Officers tried to disarm the suspect, but the armed suspect resisted violently. One officer then decided to shoot in self-defense, fearing for the safety of himself and his colleagues. Medical teams on site immediately administered first aid to the shooting victim, who was declared dead at the scene."
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz described DHS’s account as “nonsense” and “lies,” saying he had reviewed video footage of the shooting.
“What I saw with my own eyes, and what you all will see for yourselves, makes their claims very hard to believe,” Walz said. “I have watched the video from multiple angles, and it is disturbing.”
Meanwhile, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also said he had seen the video footage, describing the scene as “more than six masked officers surrounding and beating one of our residents before shooting him to death.”
CNN reported that the video appears to show federal immigration officers pulling a gun from Pretti’s person moments before opening fire and killing him. Witnesses at the scene testified that Pretti neither resisted nor tried to draw a weapon.
Follow international news:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:cnn