US officials defend fatal ICE shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis - as Barack Obama insists tragedy is a 'wake-up call'

Alex Pretti, 37, was shot dead on Saturday, which marked the second killing of an anti-ICE protester in the city of Minneapolis in the space of a month.

Following the shooting, Mr Pretti's devastated parents blasted the suggestion that their son posed a threat to the officers as "sickening lies."

But senior officials have continued to defend the shooting, with Gregory Bovino, Border Patrol commander-at-large, alleging the ICU nurse "impeded' a law enforcement operation.

Read more: Family of nurse, 37, fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis blast claims he was 'carrying a gun' as 'sickening lies'

Read more: Man, 37, shot dead by ICE agents in in Minneapolis revealed as intensive care nurse

Speaking to CNN on Sunday, Mr Bovino said: "The victims are border patrol agents. Law enforcement doesn't assault anyone."

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also accused Pretti of assaulting the agents, rioting and obstructing them.

She told Fox News: "We do know that he came to that scene and impeded a law enforcement operation, which is against federal law.

"It's a felony. When he did that, interacting with those agents, when they tried to get him to disengage, he became aggressive and resisted them."

However, videos from the scene appeared to showed Pretti holding a phone in his hand, not a gun.

Another clip shows him attempting to stand between federal agents and a person one of them has just shoved to the floor.

Obama called the shooting a "heartbreaking tragedy" and warned that "many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault."

He said it was a "wake-up call to every American," and added: "Federal law enforcement and immigration agents have a tough job.

"But Americans expect them to carry out their duties in a lawful, accountable way, and to work with, rather than against, state and local officials to ensure public safety."

But firing back at Obama's statement, a White House spokesperson said that "of course Barack Hussein Obama would try and exploit this moment to sow more division". 

President Trump also posted on Truth Social post, where he said "EVERY Democrat Governor and Mayor" in the US should comply with the administration's crackdown on illegal immigration "rather than resist and stoke the flames of Division, Chaos, and Violence."

Releasing a short statement on Sunday, the White House described the ICE agents as "heroes" who are "removing dangerous criminal illegals off our streets to protect American families."

The statement added: "Meanwhile, Minnesota’s local leadership repeatedly chooses politics over the safety of law-abiding Americans."

Trump said: "The Mayor and Governor are inciting insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric...LET OUR ICE PATRIOTS DO THEIR JOB!

"12,000 Illegal Alien Criminals, many of them violent, have been arrested and taken out of Minnesota.

"If they were still there, you would see something far worse than you are witnessing today!"

A statement from the family read: "The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting.

"He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.

"Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man."

The The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce released a joint letter on Sunday, calling for an immediate de-escalation of tensions and for state, local, and federal officials to work together to find real solutions."

The letter, signed by 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies stated: "The business community in Minnesota prides itself in providing leadership and solving problems to ensure a strong and vibrant state. The recent challenges facing our state have created widespread disruption and tragic loss of life.

"For the past several weeks, representatives of Minnesota’s business community have been working every day behind the scenes with federal, state and local officials to advance real solutions. These efforts have included close communication with the Governor, the White House, the Vice President and local mayors.

"There are ways for us to come together to foster progress.  With yesterday’s tragic news, we are calling for an immediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions.  

"We have been working for generations to build a strong and vibrant state here in Minnesota and will do so in the months and years ahead with equal and even greater commitment.

"In this difficult moment for our community, we call for peace and focused cooperation among local, state and federal leaders to achieve a swift and durable solution that enables families, businesses, our employees, and communities across Minnesota to resume our work to build a bright and prosperous future.'