Several Minnesota Timberwolves fans chanted ‘F*** Ice’ as Target Center honored Alex Pretti before Sunday’s rearranged game against the Golden State Warriors.
Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was shot and killed after a struggle with federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday. Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton claimed ‘Alex Pretti was murdered,’ while the NBA Players Association released a blistering statement on his death.
It came just two weeks after 37-year-old Renee Good was fatally shot in her car by an Immigration and Customs (ICE) officer.
On Saturday, the Timberwolves’ clash with the Warriors was postponed to ‘prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community’ and 24 hours later Minnesota coach Chris Finch struggled to contain his emotions as he addressed the ‘unconscionable situation.’
Shortly before tip-off, a moment of silence was held in memory of the nurse. ‘We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Alex Pretti that occurred yesterday in Minneapolis,’ the stadium announcer said.
‘We extend our regard, support and heartfelt sympathies to Alex’s family, friends and our community during this difficult time.’
WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT
Alex Jeffrey Pretti was gunned down during a struggle with federal agents in Minneapolis
Pretti was honored before the Timberwolves took on the Golden State Warriors on Sunday
Before long, cries of ‘F*** Ice!’ rang around the arena. That sparked cheers and applause from fellow fans. There were protests outside the arena, too, with one person displaying a message that compared ICE to the Gestapo.
Ahead of the game, Finch spoke out about the the loss of ‘another beloved member of our community in the most unimaginable way… for the second time in less than three weeks.’
He said: ‘As an organization, we are heartbroken for what we are having to witness and endure and watch.
‘And we just want to extend our thoughts and prayers and concern for Mr Pretti’s family, all his loved ones and everyone involved in such an unconscionable situation, in a community that we really love.
‘[It is] full of people who are by nature peaceful and prideful. We just stand in support of our great community here and also I’d like to extend to the leadership – [NBA commissioner] Adam Silver, [Timberwolves CEO] Matt Caldwell, [president] Tim Connolly and the Golden State Warriors – our thanks for the decision yesterday.
‘Because playing basketball just didn’t feel like the right thing to do. Hopefully we can play today and move forward but we feel like we have a lot of work to do.’
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Pretti was shot after he ‘approached’ Border Patrol officers with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem claimed that officers ‘clearly feared for their lives’ and fired defensive shots at Pretti after he ‘violently’ resisted federal agents.
Demonstrators protest ahead of Sunday’s clash between the Timberwolves and the Warriors
Video showed agents wrestling with Pretti and taking him to the ground before he was shot
Federal authorities claimed the intensive care unit nurse was carrying a loaded Sig Sauer P320 9mm pistol, but video captured at the scene appears to show officers disarming him before shots rang out.
Minneapolis police say Pretti had no serious criminal history and was a lawful gun owner with a valid permit, while his family eviscerated the Trump administration in a blistering statement.
‘The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,’ they said.
‘Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. 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.’
