Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns is speaking out after deadly shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
In a social media post, the five-time All-Star called the events “heartbreaking” and urged for protection for all people as protests continue across Minnesota and beyond.
“What is happening in the Twin Cities and the Great North Star State is heartbreaking to witness,” Towns wrote on X/Twitter. “These events have cost lives and shaken families — and we must call for accountability, transparency, and protections for all people. This moment demands that we reflect honestly on what our values truly are.
“My thoughts, prayers, and deepest condolences are with the families of Renée Good and Alex Pretti. I stand with the people of Minnesota.”
A U.S. Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, on Saturday morning. Federal officials say the shooting was in self-defense after Pretti stepped into a confrontation between an immigration officer and a woman on the street.
Officials say that Pretti was armed, but no bystander videos appear to show him holding a weapon. The Minneapolis police chief said Pretti had a permit to carry a gun.
Pretti’s death follows another shooting death that occurred Jan. 7 when Renee Good was killed during an immigration stop.
The deaths of Pretti and Good have led to protests and outrage not only in Minneapolis but around the country.
On Saturday, Hall of Famer and NBA analyst Charles Barkley expressed frustration over what’s happening in Minneapolis.
“It’s just sad,” Barkley said on ESPN’s “NBA Tip-Off” after Saturday’s game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors was canceled because of the shooting. “It’s scary and it’s sad. It’s sad. I don’t know how. …You know it’s going to end bad. It’s already ended badly twice. Somebody has got to step up and be adults because two people have died for no reason, and it’s just sad.”