President Donald Trump on Saturday accused Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of stoking unrest after a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis ended with officers shooting and killing Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, an incident that drew protests and the use of tear gas.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump suggested local leaders “called off” police protection and claimed federal officers were forced to defend themselves. He revived broad allegations of fraud in Minnesota and questioned Rep. Ilhan Omar’s finances, offering no evidence for the claims. Trump also said “12,000 illegal alien criminals” had been arrested in the state and urged that immigration officers be allowed to “do their job.”
In a statement posted Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security said the shooting occurred during what it described as a targeted operation. DHS said Border Patrol officers fired “defensive shots” after a man approached officers with a 9mm handgun and “violently resisted” when officers tried to disarm him. DHS said the man had two magazines and no identification.
DHS said crowd-control measures followed what it described as a response by about 200 people at the scene. Federal officers used tear gas as crowds confronted officers, according to DHS and city police statements.
Late Saturday night, a federal judge ordered steps to preserve evidence and prevent federal agencies and officials from destroying or altering materials related to the fatal shooting.
U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud granted a temporary restraining order in a court order covering evidence tied to the Jan. 24, 2026, shooting near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis. The order bars federal offices and officials from deleting, destroying, or amending associated evidence, including items collected at the scene and evidence now in the defendants’ exclusive custody.
The emergency request was made by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, which asked the court to act quickly to prevent loss or alteration of evidence.
The case names multiple federal agencies and officials, including the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel. The filing is listed as 26-cv-628 (ECT/DTS).
The judge ordered the plaintiffs to serve the defendants by 9 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. Objections are due Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, with a hearing set for 2 p.m. in Courtroom 7D at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in St. Paul. The court waived the bond requirement, citing Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(c).
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