Alex Pretti, the protester who was shot and killed Saturday while clashing with federal agents, was carrying a Sig Sauer P320-AXG COMBAT, a high-capacity 9 mm pistol.
President Trump posted a photo of the handgun on social media.
The gun had a 20-21 round magazine, a threaded barrel, and was customized with a red-dot laser sight.
The firearm was the bestselling handgun in 2023. It is one of the more expensive pistols, retailing between $1,199 and $1,300, and comes with three 21-round magazines.
Tricia McLaughlin, spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said the officers were responding to a man who had a gun with two magazines and fired “defensive shots.”
Mr. Pretti, 37, had a permit to legally carry a firearm, according to Minneapolis Police. But the Department of Homeland Security has said it is unlawful for protesters or observers to bring guns to demonstrations.
Federal officers shot and killed Mr. Pretti in Minneapolis in what was the fifth shooting in January by government agents amid Mr. Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Mr. Pretti, an ICU nurse, was also a member of National Nurses United, the nation’s largest union and professional association of registered nurses, which has called for the “abolition of ICE.”
“The nation’s nurses, who make it their mission to care for and save human lives, are horrified and outraged that immigration agents have once again committed cold-blooded murder of a public observer who posed no threat to them,” the Nurses’ union said.
“This time, they have executed one of our fellow nurses, Alex Pretti, who saved veterans’ lives as an intensive care unit RN for the Veterans Health Administration. He not only advocated for his patients inside the VA as a member of American Federation of Government Employees … but also took his advocacy to the streets to stand up for his community as nurses do.”
National Nurses United called on senators not to support a Homeland Security appropriations bill that is up for approval this week, which may risk triggering another government shutdown.
Video shows several agents wrestling him to the ground and shooting him multiple times in south Minneapolis early Saturday. Mr. Pretti was struck in the chest and taken to the hospital after CPR was performed at the scene.
Rob Dobar, a lawyer for the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, thinks that Mr. Pretti’s gun discharged after the agent grabbed it, causing the other agent to fire upon Mr. Pretti.
“I believe it’s highly likely the first shot was a negligent discharge from the agent in the grey jacket after he removed the Sig P320 from Pretti’s holster while exiting the scene,” Mr. Dobar said on X.
Sig Sauer warns on its website that the firearm is not available with a manual safety.
“A manual safety — when engaged — is designed to mechanically prevent the firearm from discharging when the trigger is pressed, either intentionally or unintentionally,” Sig Sauer says.
“You should consider whether a manual safety on a handgun is right for you based on your experience level and intended use, keeping in mind best practices for safe firearms handling. It is possible for the trigger to be unintentionally pressed even under normal handling circumstances.”
Sig Sauer reminds gun owners that a manual safety is designed to augment, not replace, safe firearm handling practices. It added, “You are responsible to protect against unintentional trigger movement while carrying any firearm.”
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
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