After Alex Pretti’s killing, a battle of narratives

The killing of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti on Saturday morning marks a dramatic escalation of what was already a very tense moment for Minneapolis.

Just a day before, thousands of residents marched in a citywide strike organized by faith leaders and labor unions. They were protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in the state, including the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renée Good by an ICE officer earlier this month.

Although it is not clear how Pretti’s interaction with federal agents began on Saturday, bystander footage reviewed by The Post raises questions about Homeland Security’s account of what happened. On Saturday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti – a legal gun owner, who was carrying a gun in or near his waistband when he was killed – had been committing an act of domestic terrorism. According to a Post analysis, federal agents had already secured the handgun he was carrying by the time they fatally shot him.

Today on “Post Reports,” host Martine Powers speaks with national reporter Kim Bellware about the death of Alex Pretti – why many people are worried that his death won’t get a thorough investigation, and how this encounter is raising important questions around America’s gun debate.

Today’s show was produced by Elana Gordon and Rennie Svirnovskiy with help from Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to Annie Gowen, Lauren Gurley and Gina Harkins.

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