An NBA (National Basketball Association) game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors has been postponed after the US Department of Homeland Security confirmed that a federal officer shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Saturday 24 January, 2026.
In a press conference, Brian O’Hara – the Minneapolis police chief – confirmed that officers had attended the scene of the shooting before finding a man with multiple gunshot wounds. O’Hara then confirmed that the man had died and added that, based on “very limited information”, the person is believed to be a 37-year-old US citizen who lived in the local Minneapolis area.
Federal officials have also claimed that the officer who delivered the fatal gunshot had served for Border Patrol for an eight-year period and has been claimed, by Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, that federal officers fired “defensive shots” in response to a man approaching them with a handgun who “violently resisted” when officials attempted to disarm him.
“Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots,” McLaughlin said before adding, “Medics on scene immediately delivered medical aid to the subject but was pronounced dead at the scene.” She then added that the man had "two magazines and no ID".
Donald Trump Speaks Out NBA Game Between Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors Postponed Following Shooting
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It was later confirmed by the Associated Press News Agency (AP), that the man was an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse named Alex Pretti, who had been protesting in the wake of an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agent fatally shooting 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on January 7. Widespread protests have occurred as a result and AP reports that Pretti's death has happened just over one mile away from where Good was shot.
NBA Communications took to X (formerly Twitter) to inform fans of the game's postponement to keep the Minneapolis community as safe as possible, as they wrote:
"The National Basket Association game scheduled for today between the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center has been postponed. The decision was made to prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community," they wrote.The game has been rescheduled for tomorrow (Jan. 25) at 5:30 p.m. ET at Target Center."
Quick to respond to the news, US President Donald Trump and US Vice President JD Vance have both reacted to the shooting. The latter has accused local law enforcement of refusing to work alongside ICE in a post on X. “What the ICE agents wanted more than anything was to work with local law enforcement so that situations on the ground didn't get out of hand," he wrote. "The local leadership in Minnesota has so far refused to answer those requests."
“This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go – What is that all about?" Trump wrote on Truth Social alongside a photo of a loaded gun. "Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?”
Victim's Father, Michael Pretti, Speaks Out Following His Son's Death
The father of Alex Pretti, whose name is Michael, has also spoken out following the death of his son, admitting that Alex had become involved in the protests since Renee Good was killed by ICE earlier this year. On January 7, 2026, Good – a 37-year-old American citizen – was shot dead in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Ross.
"He [Alex] cared about people deeply, and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset. He felt that doing the protesting was a way to express that, you know, his care for others," his father said before claiming that he warned Alex of the dangers of protesting.
"We had this discussion with him two weeks ago or so, you know, that go ahead and protest, but do not engage, do not do anything stupid, basically," Michael added. "And he said he knows that. He knew that."
Born in Illinois, Pretti (aside from two traffic violations) does not appear to have much of a serious criminal history. His family told the AP that, before Saturday, Pretti had never had any interactions with law enforcement beyond the traffic tickets.