10 Shots in Five Seconds

Federal agents fatally shot an armed American citizen during an ICE operation in Minneapolis, triggering a constitutional crisis as local and state officials blast federal overreach while videos contradict the official narrative.

Story Highlights

Border Patrol agents killed Alex Prey, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen legally carrying a firearm, during an immigration operation on January 24, 2026
Video evidence contradicts DHS claims that the victim attacked agents, showing a scuffle before ten shots were fired in five seconds
Federal agents blocked local police from the crime scene and seized jurisdiction, creating a standoff between Minneapolis officials and the Trump administration
This marks the third ICE shooting in Minneapolis within three weeks, escalating tensions between federal immigration enforcement and sanctuary-leaning local governments

Federal-Local Standoff Erupts Over Crime Scene Control

Federal immigration agents blocked Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara and local investigators from accessing the shooting scene at 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, creating an unprecedented jurisdictional clash. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty demanded federal cooperation while coordinating with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. FBI armored vehicles arrived hours after the shooting as DHS asserted primacy over the investigation. Governor Tim Walz condemned the shooting and contacted the Trump administration directly. This federal obstruction raises serious questions about accountability when federal agents operate in local communities, particularly when the victim was an American citizen exercising his Second Amendment rights.

Armed Citizen’s Death Contradicts Official Account

Alex Prey, a Minneapolis ICU nurse with a legal permit to carry, was shot by Border Patrol agents at 9:05 a.m. during what DHS described as a broad immigration operation. The Department of Homeland Security claimed Prey approached officers with a handgun, impeded operations, and attempted to disarm agents, forcing them to shoot defensively. Agents recovered a SIG Sauer Emperor Scorpion with two magazines from the scene. However, New York Times analysis of video footage contradicts this narrative, showing a scuffle before agents fired ten rounds in just five seconds. The fact that a law-abiding American citizen carrying a legal firearm ended up dead during an immigration sweep underscores the dangerous expansion of federal power under aggressive enforcement operations.

Third Minneapolis Shooting Inflames Community Tensions

The January 24 incident represents the third ICE-related shooting in Minneapolis within three weeks. On January 7, federal agents fatally shot Renée Good, sparking initial protests. Days later, an immigration officer shot a Venezuelan man in the leg. Each incident has intensified community outrage in what officials describe as a historically welcoming city. Over 100 protesters assembled within hours of Prey’s death, prompting federal agents to deploy tear gas and stun grenades. Clashes resulted in pepper spraying and two arrests as demonstrators chanted “I smell Nazis.” These escalating confrontations reveal the powder keg created when federal immigration enforcement collides with sanctuary-minded communities that prioritize protecting illegal immigrants over public safety and constitutional governance.

Constitutional Concerns Over Federal Immigration Operations

This shooting raises fundamental questions about federal overreach and constitutional protections. Prey was an American citizen legally exercising his Second Amendment right to carry a firearm, yet federal agents shot him during an operation ostensibly targeting illegal immigrants. The federal government’s seizure of jurisdiction and blocking of local investigators from the scene demonstrates contempt for state sovereignty and local law enforcement authority. Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith condemned ICE’s presence, reflecting Democratic resistance to Trump administration immigration enforcement. While enforcing immigration law remains a legitimate federal function, the shooting of armed American citizens and the stonewalling of local authorities represents the type of federal power expansion that threatens individual liberty and state rights that conservatives have long opposed.

The Trump administration faces mounting political pressure as this incident fuels both anti-ICE activism and legitimate concerns about operational protocols. President Trump was briefed on the nationwide operation, and his administration must address why ICE operations are resulting in American citizen deaths and why federal agents are blocking local law enforcement from investigating these shootings. The pattern of three shootings in three weeks suggests either inadequate training, overly aggressive tactics, or encounters with legitimately armed threats—facts that cannot be determined when federal agencies refuse transparency and local cooperation. Conservative support for immigration enforcement does not require abandoning accountability or constitutional protections for American citizens.