PROTESTERS stormed a hotel in Minneapolis – suspected to be housing ICE agents – a day after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti on Saturday.
Footage shows dozens of people gathering outside the Home Suites by Hilton Hotel and barricading the road with rubbish bins and traffic cones, while shouting anti-ICE slogans.
A federal agent points a weapon at a person outside a hotel during a noise demonstration protest in response to federal immigration enforcement operations in MinneapolisCredit: AP
Federal agents push back protesters during the “ICE OUT! Noise Demo”Credit: AFP
Federal agents enter the lobby after breaking up the crowdCredit: Getty Images
It did not take long before the demonstration turned violent as people began smashing windows and spray-painting the hotel’s facade with “ICE OUT” signs.
As the crowd attempted to push through the front door, those trapped inside had to use two large vending machines to physically block them.
The incident happened on Sunday evening, forcing police to step in – and later more reinforcements were deployed.
Flares and tear gas were unleashed on the angry crowd to disperse as the situation teetered on getting out of control.
Videos from the scene showed at least two people being escorted into custody by federal agents, the NY Post reported.
One officer at the scene also appeared to be bleeding from his hands.
A large-scale disaster was avoided as tensions in Minneapolis have reached boiling point – so much so that Donald Trump is considering invoking the Insurrection Act, which would allow him to deploy the military or the National Guard.
This comes as it was confirmed that the federal agents involved in the shooting of Pretti were still working, but in a different location.
Most read in The US Sun
BUNDLE UP
ON A KNIFE-EDGE
STAGE SCARE
HOTEL HORROR
Anti-ICE protestor Pretti, 37, was carrying a “very dangerous gun” during a confrontation with armed officers on Saturday which turned deadly, according to Donald Trump.
A statement from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said: “The Minnesota State Patrol and DNR were called to assist Minneapolis police with damage to hotel property at Home2 Suites Hotel on University Avenue.
“While they collaboratively worked to encircle the group for arrests because the demonstration was not peaceful, federal agents arrived without communication and deployed chemical irritants, clearing the group.”
The department added that authorities are no longer present outside the hotel.
This was the second night of protests held across Minneapolis after the killing of Pretti, an ICU nurse.
He was gunned down as he tried to help a protester pushed to the ground by an ICE agent.
Pretti is believed to have been carrying a Sig Sauer P320 9mm pistol – which he had a permit for – when he was shot.
Conflicting reports have claimed that the gun went off moments before an agent shot at him.
The Department of Homeland Security says its agents acted in self-defense after hearing the pistol be fired.
Alex Pretti, 37, was shot dead by border patrol agents on Saturday
US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem shows a photograph of the pistol recovered by immigration agents believed to be owned by PrettiCredit: Getty
Footage has appeared to confirm the nurse did not fire the gun and that it may have accidentally gone off during the deadly scuffle with agents.
Pretti’s death came just two weeks after Renee Nicole Good was shot dead by an ICE agent in her car.
Trump told Wall Street Journal that his administration is now “reviewing everything” about the fatal shooting.
He signalled that he will eventually withdraw immigration enforcement officials from the Minneapolis area, the report said.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
“At some point we will leave. We’ve done, they’ve done a phenomenal job,” Trump said, but did not offer a time frame for when agents might depart.
“We’ll leave a different group of people there for the financial fraud.”
People bang a trash can with pots and pans as part of the protestCredit: AFP via Getty Images
The demonstration came a day after ICE agents shot and killed Alex PrettiCredit: Getty Images
