Minneapolis Police Chief Calls for Unity Amid Outrage Over Border Patrol Shooting That Killed Local Resident
A day after a deadly shooting by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, the city's police chief is sounding the alarm about the escalating tensions between law enforcement and protesters. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara expressed his deep concern that the situation is "not sustainable" and is taking a toll on the department, which is already stretched thin.
O'Hara stated that three shootings by federal agents have taken place in less than three weeks, sparking widespread outrage. The police chief noted that in 2026 alone, Minneapolis has experienced only three homicides, with two of those being carried out by federal immigration enforcement agents. He also highlighted the department's efforts to combat crime, recovering over 900 guns from the streets and arresting hundreds of violent offenders last year.
However, O'Hara's words were overshadowed by the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old city resident who was shot dead by Border Patrol agents while exercising his First Amendment rights to record law enforcement activity. The police chief emphasized that Pretti lawfully owned his handgun and did not violate any state gun laws.
In an interview on CBS News' "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," O'Hara expressed disappointment over comments made by Vice President JD Vance, who claimed that local police have been told to stand down when protesters surround federal officers. The police chief accused Vance of perpetuating a false narrative and added that it's "deeply concerning" for the situation to be portrayed as if local law enforcement is not capable of managing protests.
O'Hara also expressed frustration with the lack of basic information provided to his officers in response to the shooting, which further strained the already tense relationship between federal agents and local police. The police chief called on both sides to come together and find a solution to the chaos that's engulfing the city.
The Minneapolis Police Department is facing an unprecedented crisis, with O'Hara citing the department's limited resources and stretched personnel as the main cause of concern. With only 600 officers, he noted that it's "too much" for the department to manage the situation, leaving many wondering how long this crisis can be sustained.
A day after a deadly shooting by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, the city's police chief is sounding the alarm about the escalating tensions between law enforcement and protesters. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara expressed his deep concern that the situation is "not sustainable" and is taking a toll on the department, which is already stretched thin.
O'Hara stated that three shootings by federal agents have taken place in less than three weeks, sparking widespread outrage. The police chief noted that in 2026 alone, Minneapolis has experienced only three homicides, with two of those being carried out by federal immigration enforcement agents. He also highlighted the department's efforts to combat crime, recovering over 900 guns from the streets and arresting hundreds of violent offenders last year.
However, O'Hara's words were overshadowed by the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old city resident who was shot dead by Border Patrol agents while exercising his First Amendment rights to record law enforcement activity. The police chief emphasized that Pretti lawfully owned his handgun and did not violate any state gun laws.
In an interview on CBS News' "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," O'Hara expressed disappointment over comments made by Vice President JD Vance, who claimed that local police have been told to stand down when protesters surround federal officers. The police chief accused Vance of perpetuating a false narrative and added that it's "deeply concerning" for the situation to be portrayed as if local law enforcement is not capable of managing protests.
O'Hara also expressed frustration with the lack of basic information provided to his officers in response to the shooting, which further strained the already tense relationship between federal agents and local police. The police chief called on both sides to come together and find a solution to the chaos that's engulfing the city.
The Minneapolis Police Department is facing an unprecedented crisis, with O'Hara citing the department's limited resources and stretched personnel as the main cause of concern. With only 600 officers, he noted that it's "too much" for the department to manage the situation, leaving many wondering how long this crisis can be sustained.
. This border patrol shooting thing is just a symptom of a bigger issue - people need 2 calm down & think about what they're doing 
. I mean, come on, Alex Pretti was just trying 2 do his job (recording police activity) & ends up gettin killed 
. It's not right, but we can't just jump 2 conclusions or start blaming people 4 no reason 
. The cops are stressed out 2, they're already doin the best they can with limited resources 
. We need 2 find a way 2 work together & stop all this drama 
. It's not that hard, just chill & talk it out 
.
this whole thing is so messed up i mean im not saying police dont have a hard time dealing with protesters but come on can we just talk about the real issue here its not the police vs the protesters its the lack of info and resources for our first responders they need better support from both sides so they can do their jobs without putting themselves or others in danger 
... it's just that sometimes i wish we could find some middle ground on these issues 
... i mean, alex pretti was just exercising his right to record law enforcement and it ended in tragedy 
... but the police chief is right too, they're trying their best to keep the city safe 
... it feels like nobody's listening to each other right now 
...
, i cant even imagine how stressful it must be for those officers trying to do their job in this chaos.
. I'm all for exercising our rights, but we gotta do it safely and respectfully too. We need our leaders to step up and find a way to bring everyone together before things get out of hand 
.
. The fact that there are only 600 officers on the force and they're already stretched thin is super concerning 
. I mean, how can you expect them to handle protests when they don't have enough resources? 
. Can't we all just try to understand each other's perspectives and work together to find a solution? 
.
This is so sad what happened in Minneapolis 
. I feel so bad for Alex Pretti's family 
and the officers who are trying their best under these tough circumstances 
. The lack of info from federal agents is even more concerning 
. Can't we all just get along? 
.
. However, shouldn't we be focusing on providing our officers with the necessary training, resources, and support to handle these situations safely and efficiently? 
It's a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach, and I'm not sure that simply calling for unity will suffice 
can't we just find a way to talk things through peacefully? 
. How come he's only speaking out now after Alex Pretti was killed? What about all those other shootings by federal agents that happened before? Where were they when it mattered most? 
We should be celebrating those stats, not hiding behind what's happening with the border patrol. It's time for both sides to come together and find some common ground, you know?