NC Dems condemn fatal shooting by Border Patrol, while Republicans stay mostly silent

Amid the growing outcry over the shooting of Alex Pretti, Republican Thom Tillis called for a bipartisan investigation, but most other North Carolina Republicans seemed to ignore it. 

Most high profile Democrats in North Carolina demanded accountability in recent days for the killing of Alex Pretti, an American citizen who was shot by US Border Patrol agents on Saturday in Minneapolis, but only a few state Republicans have even mentioned the fatal shooting so far. 

While US Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina broke from the majority of national Republicans in calling for “a thorough and impartial investigation” into the shooting, he stopped far short of criticizing the agents.

Pretti’s death, the second fatal shooting at the hands of federal immigration agents in Minneapolis this month, set off peaceful but angry protests across the country and prompted Minnesota elected and police officials to launch state-led investigations and to call on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)  and Border Patrol agents to leave Minneapolis. State officials also accused federal officials of impeding their investigation and blocking them from accessing the scene of the shooting. 

Several videos of the shooting clearly contradict the response by some Trump officials, including US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, that Pretti was “a domestic terrorist” who brandished a gun at the officers with an intent to kill them. 

That is not at all what the video shows.

Pretti, an ICU nurse at a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, was coming to the aid of another resident who had been thrown to the ground by agents. Pretti, who had an open carry license, had his gun on him, but never took it out, the video shows. Border Patrol agents pepper sprayed him, then threw him to the ground and, in the scrum, saw his handgun. The videos show agents removed Pretti’s gun before he was shot at least 10 times.

Calls for an independent investigation have grown, including from a handful of Republicans like Tillis, who criticized “any administration official who rushes to judgment and tries to shut down an investigation before it begins.”

US Rep. Don Davis, a Democrat who represents several counties in eastern North Carolina also called for an independent investigation; Rep. Chuck Edwards, a Republican who represents several counties in western North Carolina called on federal officials to appear before the Homeland Security Committee; and US Rep. Deborah Ross, a Wake County Democrat, called on Noem to resign.

The only other NC Republican to allude to the shooting, Rep. Mark Harris, who represents parts of 8 counties on the state’s border with South Carolina, suggested Democrats in Minnesota were to blame for the shooting and that protesting Pretti’s killing was the same as “protecting criminals.”

Here is a brief breakdown of responses from national and other prominent North Carolina officials.

US Senator Thom Tillis, Republican:

“There must be a thorough and impartial investigation into yesterday’s Minneapolis shooting, which is the basic standard that law enforcement and the American people expect following any officer-involved shooting,” Tillis posted on X. “For this specific incident, that requires cooperation and transparency between federal, state, and local law enforcement. Any administration official who rushes to judgment and tries to shut down an investigation before it begins are doing an incredible disservice to the nation and to President Trump’s legacy.” 

US Rep. Deborah Ross, Democrat, Wake Co.

“The killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in broad daylight by a federal agent in Minneapolis is horrifying and deeply disturbing. The American people do not want violent, untrained, armed agents terrorizing our communities. There must be justice and accountability. ICE needs to leave Minnesota and Kristi Noem needs to resign …

Two American citizens have been shot and killed in cold blood. Families across the country, including in our state, have been terrorized by DHS agents. It’s time for her to go.”

US Rep. Valerie Foushee, Democrat, parts of Orange and Durham Counties

“ICE just murdered yet another person in Minnesota today. I am horrified and disgusted that these federal agents have been allowed to kill yet another person. ICE puts every single one of us at risk. Trump is allowing a federal agency to violate rights and take lives, and Congress’ continued inaction is complicity.

While people are dying at the hands of our government, the House continues to vote to give billions of taxpayer dollars to support this agency.”

US Rep. Don Davis, Democrat, eastern NC. 

“It is heartbreaking and unacceptable to see another family left mourning after such a tragic encounter with federal agents. My deepest condolences go out to the loved ones impacted by this devastating event in Minneapolis.

Over the recent days, I have heard from people across the country expressing their desire for accountability and humanity. Our immigration laws can and must be enforced with respect for life and dignity. A thorough, independent investigation into this fatal shooting is essential to uncover the full facts and to ensure accountability can be determined. The Trump administration must take immediate and decisive action to bring an end to this violence and disorder that have taken lives and undermined public trust.”

US Rep. Chuck Edwards, Republican, western NC

“I strongly support the men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe, and I support efforts to ensure dangerous illegal immigrants are identified and removed from our country.

At the same time, as with any officer-involved shooting, the facts must be fully and fairly investigated. Law enforcement officers deserve due process, and the public deserves transparency and accountability.

That is why, as a separate but coequal branch of government, I fully support the formally requested testimony from ICE, CBP, & USCIS leaders at a full Homeland Security Committee hearing.”

US Rep. Mark Harris, Republican, southern North Carolina

“SHAME ON YOU. That is the best I can say to Minnesota’s “leadership”. 

The tension we’re seeing in Minneapolis is coming from the top.

If we want the violence to end: Stop promoting it. Stop protecting criminals. Stop demonizing law enforcement.”

NC Gov. Josh Stein, Democrat

“The videos coming out of Minnesota are awful, heartbreaking, and infuriating. Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse at the VA in MN, was exercising his first and second amendment constitutional rights. His death at the hands of these ICE officers is a travesty. He should still be alive right now. There must be a transparent investigation and accountability. This senseless violence must stop.”

Roy Cooper, former NC governor and current candidate for US Senate

“These horrific shootings in Minnesota should not have happened-American citizens should not be targeted and killed. As someone who has prosecuted violent criminals, I understand the importance of federal resources to fight crime, including resources focused on deporting violent criminals– but these actions don’t make people safe and this chaos needs to stop.”

The rest is silence

As of Monday at 4 p.m., the following North Carolina members of Congress had not mentioned the shooting online or in a press release:

Republicans

Sen. Ted Budd

Rep. Virginia Foxx

Rep. David Rouzer

Rep. Greg Murphy

Rep. Addison McDowell

Rep. Tim Moore

Rep. Richard Hudson

Rep. Pat Harrigan

Rep. Brad Knott

Democrats

Rep. Alma Adams has been a frequent critic of ICE raids nationally and last year in Charlotte, and condemned the previous shooting of Good, but has not yet commented on Pretti’s killing.