On Saturday, videos rapidly circulated showing the tragic shooting of a protester in Minneapolis by a Border Patrol agent. Minnesota’s Democratic leaders argued that the footage revealed federal officers, lacking proper training, overreacted, while the Trump administration claimed the protester instigated the violence.

This incident marked the second fatal shooting by federal immigration authorities in Minneapolis this month. The earlier shooting occurred on January 7, involving Renee Good, and similarly divided political leaders after being captured on video.

The shooting on Saturday took place around 9 a.m., involving a Border Patrol agent who fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti following a brief 30-second struggle. According to the Trump administration, the agent fired “defensively” at Pretti, who was alleged to have a semiautomatic handgun and to have been “violently” resisting arrest.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, having reviewed one of the videos, described seeing “more than six masked agents pummeling one of our constituents, shooting him to death.” Frey criticized the federal operation, labeling it as an “invasion” of Minneapolis and St. Paul under the guise of Operation Metro Surge, the administration’s extensive immigration crackdown.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that Pretti attacked the officers, while Customs and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino accused him of intending to inflict “maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.” On social media, Stephen Miller, President Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff, referred to Pretti as “a would-be assassin.”

The shooting Saturday occurred when officers were pursuing a man in the country illegally wanted for domestic assault, Bovino said. Protesters routinely try to disrupt such operations, and they sounded their high-pitched whistles, honked horns and yelled out at the officers.

Pretti is talking to the officer, though it is not clear what he is saying.

The video shows protesters wandering in and out of the street as officers persist in trying to talk them back. One protester is put in handcuffs. Some officers are carrying pepper spray canisters.

Pretti comes in again when the video shows an officer wearing tactical gear shoving a protester. The protester, who is wearing a skirt over black tights and holding a water bottle, reaches out for Pretti.

The same officer shoves Pretti in his chest, leading Pretti and the other protester to stumble backward.

A different video then shows Pretti moving toward another protester, who falls over after being shoved by the same officer. Pretti moves between the protester and the officer, reaching his arms out toward the officer. The officer deploys pepper spray, and Pretti raises his hand and turns his face. The officer grabs Pretti’s hand to bring it behind his back, and deploys the pepper spray canister again and then pushes Pretti away.

Seconds later, at least a half-dozen federal officers surround Pretti, who is wrestled to the ground and hit several times. Several agents try to bring Pretti’s arms behind his back, and he struggles.

Videos show an officer, who is hovering over the scuffle with his right hand on Pretti’s back, backs away from the group with what appears to be a gun in his right hand just before the first shot.

Someone shouts “gun, gun.” It is not clear if that’s a reference to the weapon authorities say Pretti had.

And then the first shot is heard.

Videos do not clearly show who fired the first shot. In one video, seconds before the first shot, one officer reaches for his belt and appears to draw his gun. That same officer is seen with a gun to Pretti’s back as three more shots ring out. Pretti slumps to the ground. Videos show the officers backing away, some with guns drawn. More shots are fired.

The Department of Homeland Security said Pretti was shot after he “approached” Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun. Officials did not say if Pretti, who is licensed to carry a concealed weapon, brandished the gun or kept it hidden.

An agency statement said officers fired “defensive shots” after Pretti “violently resisted” officers tried to disarm him.

Walz expressed dismay at the characterization.

“I’ve seen the videos, from several angles, and it’s sickening,” he said.

President Donald Trump weighed in on social media by lashing out Walz and Frey. Trump shared images of the gun that immigration officials said was recovered from Pretti and said “What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?”