(The crisis in Minneapolis has escalated further as reports emerge of a protester suffering a devastating hand injury caused by “less-lethal” munitions during clashes following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti.)
Following the death of Alex Pretti on Saturday, January 24, 2026, federal agents deployed flash-bangs, tear gas, and pepper balls to disperse crowds at the Hennepin County Government Plaza and the shooting site. Eyewitnesses and social media reports indicate that a female protester—who was reportedly attempting to record the agents—had a portion of her hand severely injured or “blown off” after being struck at close range by a projectile launcher.
This latest injury follows a pattern of high-intensity force used by federal units in the city this month:
- January 7: Renee Good, a 37-year-old poet and mother, was fatally shot in the head by an ICE agent.
- Mid-January: A Venezuelan man was shot in the leg during an enforcement action.
- January 24: Alex Pretti, a VA nurse, was shot 10 times by Border Patrol agents while holding a cellphone.
Governor Tim Walz has called the federal presence a “campaign of organized brutality,” while Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that federal agents have repeatedly blocked local police from accessing crime scenes and assisting the injured. The Minnesota National Guard remains on high alert as the city braces for another night of mass demonstrations.
