Minneapolis chaos blamed on Democrats by top official

Border control commander attacks politicians and journalists as family of victim Alex Pretti condemn administration ‘lies'

- MIKE BEDIGAN

A top Border Control official has blamed Democrats and journalists for the chaos in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of two protesters by federal agents, but dodged questions on whether the agency bore responsibility for the tragedies.

It comes after Alex Pretti was killed while helping a fellow protester on Saturday. Footage captured from multiple angles showed how the 37-year-old ICU nurse was sprayed in the face with mace before being thrown to the ground by officers before being beaten and ultimately shot multiple times.

Pretti’s family, after seeing videos of Department of Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem and others suggesting their son was a “domestic terrorist” who attacked the officers who shot him, issued a written statement describing themselves as both heartbroken and angry.

“The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,” the family said. They added that videos showed Pretti was not holding a gun when he was tackled by federal agents, but holding his phone with one hand and using the other to shield a woman who was being pepper-sprayed. “Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man,” they said.