Featured Image Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics, News, World News, Crime
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics, News, World News, Crime
Donald Trump has provided an update on the fatal shooting of intensive care nurse Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol officer.
The 37-year-old was killed by an eight-year Border Patrol veteran in Minneapolis on Saturday (24 January) whilst protesting an immigration crackdown by ICE agents.
Pretti's death occurred just over a mile from where an ICE officer fatally shot mother-of-three Renee Good, also 37, earlier this month, while she was sitting behind the wheel of her car.
In the hours after the incident, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem alleged that the victim had come to the protest with 'weapons and ammunition to stop a law enforcement operation of federal law enforcement officers'.
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She added: "This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement."
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin agreed, insisting that federal officers were conducting an operation and fired 'defensive shots' after a man with a handgun approached them.
In his initial statement, President Trump, 79, told the Wall Street Journal that his team are 'reviewing everything' they know about the killing, and 'will come out with a determination'.
Despite several videos suggesting otherwise, the right-wing politician asserted that Pretti was carrying 'a very dangerous gun'.
In a new update today (26 January), Trump went on to announce he has sent Tom Homan - who he claims is his administration's 'border tsar' - to Minnesota, claiming he is 'tough but fair', and will relay everything he learns about the case to the president.
"He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there," Trump claimed, adding that a 'major investigation' is ongoing.
This is in relation to a 'massive 20 billion dollar' welfare fraud that he alleges took place in the state, which he attributes as being 'partially responsible' for this weekend's 'violent organised protests'.
In the wake of the tragedy, Pretti's father - who was forced to identify him over the weekend - shared an emotional statement with press, slamming the allegations made by the US government.
"He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset," he told press.
"He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong, so he did participate in protests."
The family also addressed officials' claims that Pretti was holding a gun, saying he was instead holding his phone.
"The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting," they continued. "Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man."