Former Federal Prosecutor Claims Man Shot and Killed By Federal Agents Had a ‘Death Wish’

A former federal prosecutor told Fox News on Saturday that 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti had a “death wish” when he exercised his First Amendment Right to protest in Minneapolis.

Pretti was shot and killed by ICE agents after they wrestled him to the ground while he attempted to help another protester who was being shoved by an ICE officer. A total of 10 gunshots rang out from the ICE officers, leaving Pretti lying supine and motionless in the middle of the street. He was declared dead at the scene.

Video of the incident appeared to contradict the Department of Homeland Security narrative that Pretti “approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun,” and that the officers were forced to shoot in self-defense. Pretti could be seen holding up a cell phone — not a gun — to record the officers, and was unarmed when he was shot.

Regardless, Andrew Cherkasky, who served as the first prosecutor for the Air Force’s Special Victims Unit, told Fox News that Pretti obviously had a “death wish” when he scuffled with ICE.

“Based on the reports we are hearing in the videos we see, this appears to be essentially a suicide by cop type of scenario,” Cherkasky said. “It has long been known if you’re going to fight with cops and resist in situations that are escalating like this it is a death wish.”

Cherkasky continued:

It is really unfortunate that they’ve taken on this idea that even if they disagree with the laws as it relates to immigration in our country or even the enforcement of it, to put themselves in such a dangerous situations where people around them, even if it’s not them, are aggressing against law enforcement — are in the way of law enforcement engaged in legitimate operations that have gone through all the court systems and been blessed.

What is happening is perfectly lawful on behalf of the Trump administration and the officers who are on the ground. And these folks who are putting themselves in their way are putting themselves in grave danger.

Pretti is the second Minnesotan to be shot and killed by ICE this month. The first was 37-year-old Renee Good who was shot four times on Jan. 7 while trying to flee aggressive agents that were trying to open her car door. That officer also claimed self-defense after accusing Good of trying to ram him with her car.

On Saturday, Gov. Tim Walz (D) activated the Minnesota National Guard to assist local police amid growing protests. “Guard troops are going to both to the shooting site and to a federal building where officials have squared off with protesters daily,” the Associated Press reported.

Watch the video above via Fox News.

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