Barack Obama issues 'wake-up call' to Americans as he warns 'core values under assault' after 'heartbreaking' Minneapolis shooting

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Barack Obama has issued a "wake-up call" to Americans as he warned their core values are "under assault" following a second fatal shooting in Minneapolis.
Alex Pretti, 37, died after being shot by federal immigration officials in the city yesterday morning.
According to the DHS, the shooting occurred while law enforcement officers were conducting an operation against a "wanted" illegal migrant.
However, Mr Pretti's family has expressed anger at Donald Trump and his administration after officials referred to the nurse as a "gunman".
In a statement on the shooting, Barack and Michelle Obama said the killing of Mr Pretti was a "heartbreaking tragedy".
The former President and First Lady wrote: "The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy.
"It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.
"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.

Barack Obama warned the shooting should be a 'wake-up call' to all Americans
|GETTY
"That's not what we're seeing in Minnesota. In fact, we're seeing the opposite.
"For weeks now, people across the country have been rightly outraged by the spectacle of masked ICE recruits and other federal agents acting with impunity and engaging in tactics that seem designed to intimidate, harass, provoke and endanger the residents of a major American city.
"These unprecedented tactics-which even the former top lawyer of the Department of Homeland Security in the first Trump administration has characterized as embarrassing, lawless and cruel-have now resulted in the fatal shootings of two US citizens.
"And yet rather than trying to impose some semblance of discipline and accountability over the agents they've deployed, the President and current administration officials seem eager to escalate the situation, while offering public explanations for the shootings of Mr Pretti and Renee Good that aren't informed by any serious investigation, and that appear to be directly contradicted by video evidence.
"This has to stop. I would hope that after this most recent tragedy, administration officials will reconsider their approach, and start finding ways to work constructively with Governor Walz and Mayor Frey as well as state and local police, to avert more chaos and achieve legitimate law enforcement goals.
"In the meantime, every American should support and draw inspiration from the wave of peaceful protests in Minneapolis and other parts of the country.
"They are a timely reminder that ultimately it's up to each of us as citizens to speak out against injustice, protect our basic freedoms, and hold our government accountable."
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Alex Pretti died after being shot by the federal agents
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Senior Trump administration officials have defended the immigration agents involved in the shooting despite video evidence contradicting their version of events and surging tensions between local law enforcement and federal officers.
Gregory Bovino, Border Patrol commander-at-large did not offer evidence that Pretti was trying to impede a law enforcement operation, instead focusing on the fact the ICU nurse was carrying a gun, which he had a license to carry.
"The victims are border patrol agents," Mr Bovino said. "Law enforcement doesn't assault anyone."
However, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara, told CBS "the videos speak for themselves" and branded the Trump administration's version of events "deeply disturbing".
He went on to say he had seen no evidence Mr Pretti brandished a gun.

Law enforcement officials have clashed with protesters in Minneapolis
|GETTY
The shooting follows the fatal shooting of protester Renee Good by Ice agents in Minneapolis on January 7.
Ms Good, a US citizen and mother of three, was attempting to block traffic and disrupt the officers' activities before appearing to drive at one of the agents who then shot her in self-defence.
Federal authorities said Ms Good attempted to use her car as a weapon and posed a danger to the Ice agent, which led to the use of lethal force.
The Trump administration has sent thousands of immigration agents to the Minneapolis area in recent weeks as part of a campaign to ramp up deportations of people in the country without authorisation.










